Spirit-Empowered Eldership: 8 Ways An Elder Shepherds the Church Part 2

Spirit-Empowered Elders Persevere Through Persecution (Acts 20:22-25)

Acts 20:22–25 ESV

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 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. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

Matthew George Easton, the Scottish Minister who wrote Easton’s Bible Dictionary in the late 1800’s, paints a picture of Paul’s last days before he was executed by Nero between 64-67AD. Easton writes,

“This first imprisonment came at length to a close, Paul having been acquitted, probably because no witnesses appeared against him. Once more he set out on his missionary labours, probably visiting western and eastern Europe and Asia Minor. During this period of freedom he wrote his First Epistle to Timothy and his Epistle to Titus. The year of his release was signalized by the burning of Rome, which Nero saw fit to attribute to the Christians. A fierce persecution now broke out against the Christians. Paul was siezed, and once more conveyed to Rome a prisoner. During this imprisonment he probably wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy, the last he ever wrote. “There can be little doubt that he appeared again at Nero’s bar, and this time the charge did not break down. In all history there is not a more startling illustration of the irony of human life than this scene of Paul at the bar of Nero. On the judgment-seat, clad in the imperial purple, sat a man who, in a bad world, had attained the eminence of being the very worst and meanest being in it, a man stained with every crime, a man whose whole being was so steeped in every nameable and unnameable vice, that body and soul of him were, as some one said at the time, nothing but a compound of mud and blood; and in the prisoner’s dock stood the best man the world possessed, his hair whitened with labours for the good of men and the glory of God. The trial ended: Paul was condemned, and delivered over to the executioner. He was led out of the city, with a crowd of the lowest rabble at his heels. The fatal spot was reached; he knelt beside the block; the headsman’s axe gleamed in the sun and fell; and the head of the apostle of the world rolled down in the dust” (probably A.D. 66), four years before the fall of Jerusalem.”

Jerusalem was on Paul’s road to Rome where he was eventually martyred for the faith. In Acts 20:22-25, Paul knows what awaits him in Jerusalem and Rome, persecution and death.

In Acts 20:23, Paul says that imprisonment and affection await him in every city. In Acts 20:25, Paul signals he is aware that he will die sooner than later when he ells them, “you will never see my face again.” The reality for Paul is that following Jesus is going to bring him persecution and death.

For many of us, we might say to Paul that the solution is simple; don’t go to Jerusalem. Stay away from Rome. Run as far away from persecution as you possibly can. For Paul, and for any believer in Christ, that is not possible because the Holy Spirit will not allow it.

The Holy Spirit is the one driving Paul to Jerusalem and eventually Rome.

Acts 20:22 HCSB

“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there,

What does Paul mean when he says he is “bound” or “constrained” by the Holy Spirit?

The Greek conveys the idea of a prisoner who is tied up, bound, constrained and being led somewhere. In Paul’s case, the Holy Spirit is leading Paul to Jerusalem much like a prisoner who is led by a soldier. So, when Paul says he is “bound by the Spirit” he is saying that the Holy Spirit is leading him toward Jerusalem. God is moving Him toward Jerusalem and ultimately Rome. Paul will suffer affliction and imprisonment, be persecuted and ultimately beheaded in Rome for the sake of Jesus, and Paul is OK with this.

We know he’s OK with it because of what he says in verse 24

Acts 20:24 ESV

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.

Paul’s life revolved around making much of Jesus, the “gospel of grace” so much so that he is willing to die for his love for Jesus. He says, “I count my life of no value nor as precious to myself.”

So be ing bound by the Spirit is willingly being led by the Spirit to go where he wants you to go and do what he wants you to do no matter the consequences. Your soul readily agrees with God’s Spirit to do his will passionately without hesitation, even if it means dying for his namesake.

Keep in mind, if the Holy Spirit is leading him toward suffering for Jesus, it will be the Holy Spirit that sustains Him through all suffering. That is the glory of being Spirit-empowered.

We passionately follow the Spirit’s leading wherever he leads because we are passionate about the will of God. We want to see the Greta Commission fulfilled. As we go, we know that God’s Spirit will empower us to proclaim his message and worth, even through tears.

We have seen this already in Acts when the apostles were imprisoned for preaching in the temple. We saw Stephen sustained by the power of the Spirit as he was being stoned to death. We’ve seen Paul sustained as he testified in synagogues and is even beaten and stoned almost to death. We know that Jesus promised that in our time few need, the holy Spirit will give us the words we need to proclaim the truth. Where the Holy Spirit leads us, he also sustains us through our suffering for the gospel.

What is significant about this is how much this text pushes back against Western theology. The American church rarely tells its people that God will lead you into suffering or persecution. Most of the time, the American church is being told by its pastors that God does not allow his people to suffer or experience hardship. God’s will for your life is nothing but prosperity, as if you are to live the life of heaven in a broken world.

The reality is, as Paul shows us, God will lead his people into the fire of persecution and even death for His name sake. God will allow his people to be imprisoned, beaten, even martyred. Why?

For starters, its the way of the cross. A disciple is not above his teacher. If the world persecuted Jesus, it will persecute his followers. In God’s sovereignty, he allows and even ordains. Second, God is not bound by our timeline. He operates in light of eternity. Paul says

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

meaning, our suffering on earth is light and momentary compared to the eternal glory we have waiting for us in heaven. God is going to reward his people. He promises we have so much joy and delight and rest and peace in heaven that when we look back on our suffering on earth it will seem like a paper cut.

Finally, God uses persecution to testify of His worth to those who oppose Him. Consider Peter’s words for a moment.

Peter is speaking to Christians who are exiled, in the dispersion, and who are suffering for the faith. He says to them

1 Peter 4:16 ESV

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

and in

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Those who suffer according to God’s will, for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are to despise the shame that comes from the world and glorify God; that is tell the world He is worthy. Peter says in

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

We are to rejoice in our persecution for loving Jesus. Rejoicing in the midst of persecution for Jesus’s sake tells the world he is worthy. Through our tears and our pain and our loss of property and life, we say to the world you can have it all because Jesus is worth it.

We have sung Fernando Ortega’s song, “Give Me Jesus” many times in this church. We have sung with our lips,

In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world But give me Jesus

You sang that with your lips. Does your heat believe it? Does your life reflect it?

It should be reflected most in the leadership of the church. As the leaders go, so goes the church. Paul is speaking to elders. he is commending them by example to hold fast in the faith. Elders know being faithful to the gospel will being persecution. And Paul says to the elders, don’t value this life more than your enteral life. Be faithful to the gospel at all cost. For, as John Piper says, “Faithfulness is better than life!”

Elders are to be passionate about the will of God so much so they are bound by it even if it leads to suffering. Their example will lead the church to do the same; so that when we sing,

And when I come to die Oh, and when I come to die An when I come to die, just give me Jesus!

Give me Jesus Give me Jesus You can have all this world But give me Jesus!

Spirit-Empowered Elders Teach the Full Counsel of God’s Word like a Watchman (Acts 20:26-27)

Acts 20:26–27 ESV

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul might be signaling Ezekiel in these two verse. In Ezekiel 33:1-6, the Lord tells Ezekiel that his ministry is like that of a watchman. The watchman’s job is to warn the people of coming danger. Once the warning goes out, it is the peoples responsibility to act. If the watchman does his job, he is not guilty of the lives that are lost in the invasion. However, if the watchman fails to warn the people of the coming danger, their blood is on his hands.

Paul is saying tot he elders that he has preached the whole purpose of God. That is, he has called them to repent and given them the gospel. He has spent time explaining the gospel and how to live in the kingdom of God now, and the Great Commission, to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus in the church, community, and home. Paul can walk away knowing the Ephesian church now bears the responsibility to live out the Christian faith.

Elders are the watchmen of the church. They are men who study and know doctrine and theology well enough to be able to spot heresy and false teachers. Elders are men who can teach the word of God to the farmer in the field or the professor in the university. Whether they are in the pulpit preaching or on the couch in the foyer conversing, or in a classroom teaching, elders are able to guide, guard, and protect the church through God’s word.

Notice it is “the whole purpose of God.” It is for us the full counsel of God’s word. God’s word is truth, without error and fully sufficient to guide and guard our hearts.

God warns the church that people who teach will be held to a higher standard. They will give an account for their teaching. Paul seems to say that watchman of the church will bear the guilt of their flock if they do not teach the whole purpose of God.

I tremble at this. This week I was sent a message by a man who is supposed to be a watchman over his flock who did not preach the gospel in his sermon. He did not warn people of the judgement. He did not tell them of the cross or of the resurrection. The only highlight of the message was that he read scripture. Spirit-empowered elders are watchman over the people of God who guide, guard, discern, and protect them by teaching the full purpose of God’s word.

Spirit-Empowered Elders Protect the Church (Acts 20:28-31)

What dos the church need protection from? In verses 28-31, Paul warns about the danger facing the church when he leaves. He says

Acts 20:28–31 ESV

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. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

The Holy Spirit has appointed elders to protect those who were bought by the blood of Christ, the church. God gives elders the authority to speak into the lives of His people to protect them from wondering away from the fold, and he gives elders the authority to confront sin and heresy when they see it. This is part of their care for the church.

There are two dangers Paul speaks of in verses 29-30. He says

Acts 20:29 ESV

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

The fierce wolves Paul is speaking of here refers to outsiders who will come and try to indoctrinate the church with false teaching. In the Ephesian context it may be Jewish or Gentile teachers who make their way into the church and proclaim false doctrine within her. Gnosticism is an example of this in the early church. Mormonism is an example in today’s context.

The other danger is the wolves who are already in the church. Paul says

Acts 20:30 ESV

and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Men will rise up into positions of authority and teach perverted or distorted doctrine. Paul describes the false teacher from within in

1 Timothy 6:3–5 ESV

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

False teachers love money and they love stirring up strife. From an arrogant heart they lead the people into dissension. They slander the godly and cause the community to doubt the integrity of those who hold fast to orthodox teachings of Jesus. You can see why Paul calls them fierce wolves.

Wolves terrorized shepherds and sheep, especially baby ewes. Its always the vulnerable young sheep who are targeted. They are crafty animals. Jesus warns the church to watch out for wolves who are dressed in sheep's clothing. false teachers are deceptive appearing to be godly, but are in fact a wicked exploiter of the weak who bring ruin and destruction to those they lead away. Peter warns

2 Peter 2:1 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Spirit-empowered elders are men who guard and protect the church from such wolves. The church needs men who serve the church with humility, proclaim the gospel boldly, persevere through persecution, and teach the full counsel of God’s word because that is how they help protect the church. Elders who know their bible and who are passionate about Jesus will rejoice in their suffering, be faithful in their teaching, and heed off any wolves who are trying to devour the sheep. They are the watchmen of the church.

Before God appointed David King of Israel, he raised him up as a Shepherd. Just before David went out against Goliath Saul wanted him to wear his armor, which did not fit. David said

1 Samuel 17:34–35 ESV

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

What a great illustration/picture of a Spirit-empowered elder. David was alert, courageous, passionate, and willing to lay his life down for the sheep. Paul says to the elders, be alert and watch the sheep. Protect them the from wolves with sound doctrine, warning them of the consequence of going astray.

Spirit-Empowered Elders Believe it is Better to Give than Receive (Acts 20:33-35)

Acts 20:33–35 ESV

I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 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.’ ”

It is no secret that there are men who exploit the church for financial gain. Some pastors in the Western church are some of the wealthiest people in the world. The health, wealth, and prosperity gospel, a heresy that has been allowed to take foot in the church, as propagated self-seeking, worldly pastors in leadership of both rural and urban churches.

Paul rebukes the notion that an elder is to exploit the church. Ministry for Paul was never about the money or notoriety. He worked to provide for himself. He was a tent-maker. Paul did not want to burden the young church with any stumbling block. He lived and ministered by Jesus’ words, “it is better to give than it is to receive.”

It is important to note two things. First, the principle here is not that those who benefit from others generosity is less blessed. That would nullify the gospel, right? I mean, Jesus died on the cross in place of sinners. Those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Him are most blessed by His generosity. We benefit the most from Jesus laying down his life for us.

Paul’s point is that it is better for a person who can to give in order to help someone else who needs it, rather than build up a mass of wealth for themselves. This fits with serving the church with humility. The elder is to be more of a giver than a taker, that is to be more concerned about giving than receiving. I believe that is why Paul requires elders to be hospitable in 1 Timothy 3. They need to be generous with their material possessions and time and talent.

The other thing to consider is that this does not prohibit an elder from being paid. Paul commends that pastors should be paid in 1 Corinthians, and paid well enough to provide for their families. There should be a generous relationship between the congregation and her shepherds.

Spirit-Empowered Elders Pass on the Mantle of Eldership (Acts 20:32)

Paul says to the elders, “I want to commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up.” The thought behind “commend you” is to place in God’s care. Paul appointed these elders when the Ephesian church began. He discipled them and built them up to a place where they can shepherd together as one unit. Now Paul has to leave. he is never going to see them again. The church is in their hands, so to speak, under the care of the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ. That did not just happen.

Paul raised up leaders in the church. It was an intentional act to find men and mentor them into elder leadership. Inside of church life, there should be a leadership pipeline that funnels qualified men into training them to shepherd the church.

Do you ever find it interesting that the church looks for leaders outside the community? Doesn't it seem more organic to the church to raise up its own leaders? Home grown leaders don’t have to move in and figure out the lay of the land. Home grown elders have already invested in the church and proven their leadership and godliness. Home grown elders are already trusted by the church. Home grown elders already have a life here. They are not going anywhere.

There is a place for leadership that comes from the outside. I question if it is the primary means we find leaders. It seems to me that home grown plurality leadership would keep stability and consistency in the church, especially of an elder has to leave or passes away.

Spirit-Empowered Elders Finish the Race Strong (Acts 20:24-25)

Acts 20:24–25 ESV

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. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

Paul is so good here, mostly because we know how his ministry ends. He is beheaded by Nero because he faithfully testified to the gospel of the grace of God. Do you catch Paul’s sense of purpose and calling in this text? He says, “I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord.” Being an elder in the church is a high calling, the highest in the land. God calls men to shepherd his people like our Great Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Elders are to be portraits of Jesus to their people.

A Spirit-empowered elder serves the Lord with humility as he boldly proclaims the gospel to all people. Though he is persecuted for the name of Jesus, he perseveres and continues to teach the full counsel of God’s word, never shrinking back from hard doctrines or culturally controversial texts. By teaching the God’s word and being alert, he protects the church from wolves who threaten from the outside with ideologies and from the inside heresy. The Spirit-empowered elder is generous with his life, believing it s better to give than it is to receive. He builds up the church by raising up good men to be future elders. And when his time is done, and the Lord calls him home, he will enter heaven hearing from his king, “Well done, my faithful servant.” And the those in heaven and earth will agree.