A Farewell to Friends
Notes
Transcript
A Farewell to Friends
A Farewell to Friends
Intro
Farewell speeches are fairly common in the world.
Whether it be a speech from a valedictorian, a CEO stepping down, or a presidential address.
When people leave usually want to leave an impression.
They want to spur people on.
They want to encourage people.
They want to make sure that their legacy endures.
On July 4, 1939, one such speech was given.
Lou Gehrig had to retire from baseball.
He had the longest consecutive games played at the time 2,130.
He was a great baseball player and teammate.
The reason for his departure was b/c he was diagnosed with ALS, soon to be called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
If you google some of the best farewell speeches in history this one is sure to top the list.
Here’s an excerpt from his speech:
“Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans...When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
That’s a great speech.
You can hear the heart he has for his family, teammates, and his dream.
This morning we are going to look at a great speech from the Apostle Paul to the elders in Ephesus.
When you hear the world elder I don’t want you to think about old guys with white hair and canes.
When the Bible speaks of elders in the NT it is speaking about the overseers of the church.
Or what we would call pastors.
Remember, Paul spent 3 years pouring into the lives of these men.
He spent 3 years teaching, training, and loving these men.
This is the last time that he is going to see them so he wants to give them instruction, encouragement, and guidance on how to lead the church.
This is the first and only address given by Paul to Christians recorded in the book of Acts.
But we can extrapolate that this was the pattern of speech given to the different churches that he would plant then subsequently leave.
This speech is given to the leaders/pastors/elders of the church, but is definitely applicable to the church at large.
This speech demonstrates what a pastor should look like as he follows God’s leadership over God’s church.
Yet each follower of Jesus is called to be a minister for the gospel. In fact Paul writes that a pastor is
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
So my calling as your pastor is to equip you to do the work of ministry.
Not solely to feed you, but rather teach you to fish.
Not to hand everything out on a silver platter, but to train you how to work.
So, this farewell address paints you a picture of how a pastor is supposed to look, act, teach and lead the People of God.
If a Pastor doesn’t do these things or fit this description he should repent.
I want you to know that as I studied and prayed through this passage I was challenged, encouraged, and convicted. .
Before Paul is able to talk to these pastors in Ephesus, Luke gives us a short description of their travels.
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.
Travel Plans
In these travel plans we see a glimpse into Paul’s goal.
Notice that he chose not to go into Ephesus. He sailed right past it.
Why didn’t he go and talk to the church in Ephesus?
Most likely b/c it would have slowed his trip down.
It could have been for a couple of reasons.
Maybe he was afraid that his presence would have caused another riot.
Or maybe he felt like his goodbyes to all the people would take too long.
Have you ever tried to tell someone goodbye that you haven’t seen for a while and the goodbye takes longer than the initial meeting…that would have probably happened in Ephesus.
Why was Paul is such a hurry?
He had on his mind to get to Jerusalem.
Remember he still had that donation from the gentile churches for the Jerusalem church.
He wanted to get to Jerusalem before Pentecost.
That would give him the the opportunity to see Jewish Christians from all over the world and celebrate with them.
But he had to move fast in order to do that.
Nothing could slow him down.
So he presses on and arrives at Miletus (Mil lee tus). There he calls the elders in Ephesus to come to him and instructs them to follow his example.
We are going to break down his address into 3 parts.
Part 1 is Instruction by Example v.17-27
Part 2 is Being on Guard v. 28-31
Part 3 is Lead by Example v. 32-35
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.
Instruction by Example
That old adage “Actions speak louder than words”
Paul led by example. it wasn’t “Do what I say not What I do”
It was watch me. Imitate me as I Imitate Christ.
Paul tells the pastors in Ephesus to remember how he was when he was with them.
His life was an example of how to follow Jesus, teach about Jesus, and train people to grow in the likeness of Jesus.
How did Paul lead by example.
First, he served the Lord in humility.
Humility is the mark of someone wanting to be like Jesus.
Think about it. Jesus was humble.
Jesus served humbly
Jesus died humbly.
Jesus forgives humbly.
Humility is essential for the Christian.
The Pastor and Leaders of the Church should be the most humble.
Often in our culture when people think about humility they think of people who are doormats.
Humility has a negative connotation to many in today's world.
Humility doesn’t mean that you let everyone walk all over you.
Humility means that you don’t see yourself as any greater than anyone else.
Humility is a willingness to serve regardless of you position, power, or influence.
Humility isn’t limited to leadership. All Christians should humbly serve Jesus, his church, and others.
He also endured trials with grace.
Trials will come and go.
Difficulties will happen.
They will happen b/c of our own rebelliousness and sinfulness.
They will happen b/c we live in a broken world.
They will happen like because of other people.
And sometimes they will happen b/c God is trying to teach you something.
Paul endure many hardships at the hands of the Jewish people who rejected his message.
Beatings, imprisonments, death threats, chasing him out of town, then chasing him down, but regardless of what happened he continued to serve the Lord.
He continued to endure.
He was faithful when it would have been easy to give up.
Yet he kept pressing on.
He trusted the Lord.
As he endured, we read that he declared the Word of God to all who would listen.
He did it in large groups.
And in small groups.
He both proclaimed and taught.
In Public and in homes.
He proclaimed and taught the gospel of Jesus.
The need for a savior. The need for repentance. We read in v. 25-27
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.
Instruction by Example
He taught the Whole counsel of God
Because of his faithfulness to the word of God he is innocent of the blood of all.
This is a call back to Ezekiel 33
There were watchmen that would patrol the city wall looking out for enemies.
If the watchman would sound the horn, proclaiming that there was an enemy coming, but you didn’t heed the warning your blood was on your own hands.
The watchman did his job, you just chose to ignore the warning.
This is what Paul is getting at.
He proclaimed repentance. He proclaimed God’s Word.
He proclaimed it to both Jew and Greek.
And if someone ignored it he was innocent.
Many Pastors today preach on hobby horses.
This is one of the reasons that I am convinced that preaching through books of the bible is the best way for me to teach you the whole counsel of God.
That being said, from time to time, we will do a topical series, but it will always be centered on Jesus.
I’m not going to go out of my to try and make verses fit what I want them to say.
God has already spoken.
He tasks me with training you how to understand what he has said.
That’s what I am going to do.
I know I am not perfect so if you ever feel or notice that I am getting stuck on something call me out. Let me know.
Because I want to be faithful to God’s Word and proclaiming it to you.
That being said you shouldn’t get mad at me for what God has said.
If you have a problem with what He said take it to Him.
Preaching the whole counsel of God means that we are going to encounter things that we don’t like.
They may even seem offensive to our modern minds.
But if we have a problem with God’s word…Who’s right and who’s wrong?
Paul also gives the Ephesian elders an example in submission and obedience to God.
He tells them in v.22-23
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.
Instruction by Example
Paul is led by the HS to go to Jerusalem.
It isn’t just that he wants to be there.
The HS is driving him there.
And as the HS drives him there he is also making it know that this isn’t going to be an easy journey.
Imprisonment and afflictions wait for Paul.
Yet he is still obedient.
Verse 24 gives us the reasons for his obedience
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.
Instruction by Example
I want us to see something that I think we should all embrace.
Our life is not our own.
If we are followers of Jesus we give our lives to him.
We are used by him.
We are led by him. Sustained by him.
Why? To testify to others about his grace.
To tell others about the good news of the gospel.
That is Why God has called us to himself.
We are to live a life in submission to him.
Christianity isn’t about getting out of hell.
Living a prosperous life.
Having all our troubles swept away.
God has already taken care of our biggest issue.
He has offered us life.
He has given us truth.
We Get God.
We Get to be called children of God.
We Get to tell others that they can have this too.
We can tell from Paul’s life that God’s will is not always easy.
Sometimes the things that God calls us to do are hard.
They are not the easy path.
But that hardship is used to shape us, mold us, makes us more into the image of Christ.
Hardships are ment to hone off the rough edges.
Sand us down and make us rely more on God.
If someone told you that if you follow Jesus you won’t have any issues, problems, or difficulties in life. They lied to you.
But here’s what we know.
When we follow Jesus and these hardship occur there is a reason for them.
He never wastes an ounce of our suffering.
He wanted us to know this so much that he came and suffered on our behalf.
He came and died a sinners death, so he can sympathize with our sufferings.
Following Jesus is not always sunshine and rainbows, often times it is in the muck and the mire that we see him for who he truly is and what he has truly done.
Paul sees and knows that there is purpose in his suffering.
So his desire is that he would finish the race faithful to Jesus.
That is my hope for you.
Finish the race. Stay faithful even when life gets difficult.
God’s got a plan and that plan is to make you more like Jesus.
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.
Be on Guard
Paul warns the pastors that there are going to be wolves that sneak into the congregation and try to teach against the truth of God.
But what is the first thing he tells them?
Pay careful attention to yourselves.
Why would he say that?
Because if the Pastor doesn’t take care of himself he won’t be able to take care of the congregation.
But he also tells the pastors to pay attention to the flock.
This reflects back to the imagery of the Pastor being the shepherd of a flock of sheep.
Pastors are supposed to protect their people.
God has entrusted pastors to care for his people.
There are always going to be people who want to lead others astray.
Sometimes they enter into the church and cause division.
Sometimes they enter into the church and start teaching false doctrines.
Sometimes they enter into the congregations homes through media, friendships, or relationships.
I heard one pastor put it this way.
A good shepherd smells like his sheep.
This means that a good pastor is in the lives of his people.
He is in regular communication with them.
They trust him.
He trusts them.
He sees when things are going astray and helps to correct them.
Some take this analogy and go overboard with it.
What they do is basically use their position as a power play.
Where they start to play the HS in the lives of the congregation.
Through shaming them publically.
Admonishing them harshly.
Or separating them indefinitely.
But here’s the thing.
Shepherds love their sheep.
Like wise Pastors are to love their congregation.
We should be compassionate and loving not bullies.
I don’t know what you think about when you think about shepherds, but I used to think they were pretty docile, lying in the fields, making sure that the sheep were being fed.
But did you know that shepherds aren’t docile and weak people.
We learn from David that he fought off lions and bears to protect the flock.
Shepherds carried a rod and a staff to gently guide the sheep
The Rod is like a policeman's club. It is often made of oak wood and has a knob on the end of it. Into this knob nails are sometimes driven so as to make a better weapon. It is very useful for protection, and no shepherd would be without it.
Pastor are called to stand guard and make sure that at every level truth is being taught.
We are called by God to protect his flock.
The HS spirit leads us to love, serve, and protect his people.
I am humbled when I think about the Fact that God has placed me here with you.
That he has entrusted me to help lead, teach, and protect you.
It’s a weighty matter.
And I know that its no accident, but designed by God.
That being said you don’t belong to me.
This isn’t Josh’s Church.
This isn’t your church.
This is God’s Church.
We are the people of God.
You belong to God.
he is the one that has purchased you.
He is the one who sought you.
Pastors should also be compassionate and empathetic with the people of God.
Pastors should weep with those who weep and rejoice with those that rejoice.
Several times in this passage we see Paul say that he did these things with tears.
He cared for these people.
Not superficially, but truly, madly, deeply loved these people.
He loved them b/c he saw that they were loved by God.
And the more we love God the more we will love one another.
And we are called to do this b/c you were bought with a price.
Jesus’ blood was shed for you.
You are his children.
So like he fought for you, Pastors are to fight for you too.
This message for the Ephesian elders is important as it is for us today, because it doesn’t take long for people to be led astray.
Both attacks from the outside and from inside the church can lead us astray.
Paul writes two letters to Timothy and addresses some false doctrine being taught in Ephesus, but we also read about Ephesus in Revelation.
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
This is why we need to watch out.
Because we don’t want to be ones that lost our first love.
We want to faithfully endure.
Paul closes his speech by telling the pastors that they need to lead by example.
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.’ ”
Lead by Example
The first way Paul tells these pastors to lead by example is to stay devoted to the Word of God.
More specifically “the word of his grace”.
God’s word builds up God’s people.
It’s important for people to be in and love God’s word so that they can know who God is.
We can only give from what we have recieved.
So Pastors and leaders are to be filled with God’s word so that we can give it to others.
From God’s grace and his word we are able to be transformed.
The grace of God is not for just the time that we first give our life to Jesus, but daily we receive his grace.
God’s grace is part of our inheritance as followers of Jesus.
Where regardless of how often we stumble.
How often we fall.
How often we rebel.
How often we stand opposed to God.
Grace is extended to us.
Because as we live our life on earth we are still being sanctified.
We aren’t perfect yet.
Listen to what one commentator said about this passage on the Word of Grace.
The Acts of the Apostles d. The Grounds for Confidence (20:32–35)
This is the God-given ‘word’ by which the church grows in size and maturity and is protected from error and division. It is the message which God uses to convert and to sustain believers until they reach the inheritance which the gospel itself promises. When the gospel is faithfully preached and applied to believers, they are assured of their standing with God in Christ and are encouraged to press on in love, unity, and obedience.78
That is why Pastors preach the word of God to sustain, empower, and lead the congregation to maturity.
Yet there is a temptation to want financial gain when leading people and Paul knows this, so he cites his example of avoiding prosperity and encourages the pastors to do the same.
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.’ ”
Professional orators would visit from town to town gain a following and then cash in.
But Pastors are to stay away from greed.
It is not wrong from a pastor to be compensated for his work, but he should not work to be compensated.
And he should work hard in his calling.
Listen, there are people who profit of the name of Jesus.
They let greed lead them.
They let adoration guide them.
They let the praise of the satisfy them.
But a pastor that loves his congregation seeks the good of God’s people not a fattened wallet.
The way that people combat greed is by showing generosity.
Generosity in helping the weak, poor, and the down and out.
Paul quotes Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Interestingly, this quote is found no where in the gospels, but does that mean that Jesus didn’t say it?
We don’t have all the Words Jesus spoke.
We have a selection of the words.
But if Jesus didn’t say this then surely someone from around this time would have stepped up and said something.
Regardless, the truth is there giving is always better than receiving, especially when we recognize how much we have been given.
We have been given life, hope, grace, mercy.
We have been given much so we should give to others.
Christian,
How are you doing?
Are you showing people that they matter to God?
Are you telling them how amazing the love of God is?
Are you proclaiming the truth of God?
Are you being generous?
If you are a member here, I also want to ask you.
How do you think I’m doing?
Am I living up to this standard?
If you don’t think I am, come and talk to me.
I am no better than you.
I just have a different calling.
If your here today and you don’t know this Jesus we proclaim.
I want you to know that God is calling out to you.
He wants you to repent of your sin and turn to him.
Not so that you can escape hell, but so that you can enjoy Him.
The life he gives is amazing.
The grace he offers is sustaining.
The love he freely gives is life changing.
He is calling out to you! Are you going to Answer him?
Lord’s Supper
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.