Final Act: Scene 2

Intro - I became a youth pastor at 19 and have been pastor/leading/teaching in some capacity ever since. Many times I’ve felt lost as to what to do. Everyone has an opinion and it’s quite possibility one of the hardest things I’ve done. Passages like this one give me joy and something to center myself with…it bleeds with a pastor’s heart....

TR: First, the warning that he gives is of the wolves...

The Wolves

Paul paints a clear picture of the role of a leader in this small section that is succinct and profound.

Paul in this passage seemed to be drawing from Ezekiel

Ezekiel 33:2–9 ESV

“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

See the role of a leader is multifaceted and carries with it dire obstacles and consequences if failed.

Paul makes it clear that in his mind he is innocent of the any moral/spiritual ill that may befall the Ephesian elders

Primarily because he did not back up in declaring the whole counsel of God.

As leaders, we are called not pull any punches. This doesn’t mean that every moment is a moment to speak but cowardice is not an option.

In addition, Paul admonishes leaders to first be mindful of ourselves.

We cannot give what we don’t have! We must be devoted to His Word, prayer, His people and His mission.

We must also be mindful of the flock, you all

First, because it wasn’t out of ability that we became pastors but instead by appointment of the Holy Spirit

Second, you all are precious to God because He purchased you through the blood of Jesus

There was a visitor that came a while ago and asked what was the most challenging thing about being a Pastor. I told him about the story of Moses, inadequate yet equipped. Insecure in his ability but aware of God’s power. Leading a people that at times are fragile and precious in the Lord’s eyes but at times frustrating. How Moses could be excited about the things that were to come in the Promised Land yet he’s leading people that at times encourage him but also are willig to settle for the mundane. Yet he did not have the liberty to be harsh or flippant with them because they are God’s people…that is one of the toughest items of pastoring.

Yet one of the chief roles of the leader is to be aware of threats and these threats usually don’t come from outside....but inside

And these threats have the chief goal of drawing away disciples for themselves, dividing and taking advantage people.

This passage makes so much more sense to me now after 10 years of pastoring.

People are eloquent and loud....at times they make you even question your biblical centricity…and yet they are wolves

Rooted in selfish ambition rather than centered on Scripture.

The crazy thing is Ephesus, after about 40 years, fell into this trap, although they stood fast against false apostles and teachings, they had allowed their orthodoxy to become mechanical. Their love had cooled for everything other than their doctrine...

I’m reminded of doing pre-marital counseling and how when I ask them to list off each other’s flaws it many times is difficult or they aren’t significant. Ask that again in 10 years and see what answers you get. Yet they’re “faithful”, “providing”, etc.

Family have in our fight against wolves have we lost our passion for the lost? For each other?

TR: Because of these wolves Paul calls to mind his witness before them...

The Witnesses

The identity of a real leader, one that you should follow is not just one that is courageous, mindful of their own standing before the Lord, and valuing the flock...

But one that admonishes with tears...

There is a passion to this. Never follow someone who is more passionate about being right than they are with the well being of the flock.

At times my heart breaks for our people…I have the privilege of digging into the Scriptures and drinking deeply from the well of His Word.

Not because of sin…but usually because of settling. We settle into these echo chambers that reinforce our ideas and are divided by wolves in sheep’s clothing.

They appear to be for our good but contrary to Paul’s example seek financial gain. Is it no wonder that no less than 3 times in this book Luke has pointed out how many people stirred up mobs under the pretense of religious or social vigor when it was in fact financially driven???

A common journalistic axiom is if it bleeds it leads....meaning if we can make this into a conflict, violence, or death it’ll gain traction. YET IT’S REALLY ABOUT THE MONEY!!!

Paul commends them to God and to His Word

This is the only thing that is truly able to build us up.

While false teachers may arise…the Word of God actually builds up and yields an inheritance!

Paul motivates us here with what it’s all about…what is it going to be like when we stand before the Lord and receive a reward for what we’ve done in the body of Christ.

Paul admonished them with it and now gives them over to it.

Who and what directs your path family?

I think of how wolves hunt packs of animals. They cause them to be unnerved, plant seeds of chaos, then pick off the young, frail, or misguided as the herd flees for their lives. When in fact if the pack of animals would just stop and stand unified on what’s most important they’d be safe and they’d receive the inheritance of peace and provision.

We have fallen into the trap in American evangelicalism…have we forgotten the weak, sought out our own course? In doing so the flock divides and is picked off.

Paul not only built up the weak but also was more eager to be a blessing to others than to be a burden.

False teachers are motivated by the money and the fame but true witnesses reach into a deeper realm of being blessed through giving.

What a blessing it is to give…give of your time, money, encouragement!

Stop following these leaders that seek their own! Stop following these leaders that only make you feel good.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Family it is a slow drift indeed.

I pray as one of your leaders and many of you as some of mine, that we’d be knit together in our love for Jesus. One day some of us are going to part ways for various reasons, let it not be because we have been divided…

Instead, as with Paul and the Ephesians, let it be because the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven is expanding on this earth and we are being sent as family ambassadors.