059 Run Right. Finish Well.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
1. Paul ran right.
1. Paul ran right.
You know the manner I lived.
Paul lived transparently.
You can’t learn from someone’s life if they don’t live transparently.
We need to be comfortable talking about our struggles and failures.
You know I ran right.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Paul had been with them for 3 years.
They had observed how he served.
He was letting his life speak for itself.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Then Paul tells us how that looked.
(1) A. Paul served Christ with humility.
(1) A. Paul served Christ with humility.
Paul was not serving for self.
What are you claiming to do for God that you are doing for yourself?
Humility allows us to do the work and let God get the glory!
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul had a proper view of himself.
He recognized his unworthiness.
That’s where humility starts.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
It can be difficult to stay humble when we see God working.
Humility is easier when it is all God’s work anyway.
The ultimate goal is for Christ to be glorified.
For christians to grow and the lost come to Christ.
When a speaker was here and said something that I had been saying.
Pastor Mike preaching is a big deal to some pastors.
What if it was better to hand off the person you are discipling?
What if you had to turn your ministry over to someone else?
What if we decided that is was better for the church that we fill your ministry time with something else?
(1) B. Paul served Christ with faithfulness.
(1) B. Paul served Christ with faithfulness.
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,
“The whole time”
There was a consistency in his ministry.
How consistent are you in ministry?
What do you do when it gets hard?
How do you react when you don’t see the results you want?
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
Through...
Many tears
Trials
The plotting of the Jews
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Paul was faithful during difficult things.
Paul was faithful when ministry didn’t go they way he thought.
Paul was faithful when God closed doors.
Paul was faithful to do what was in front of him.
He was willing to share the gospel with just one.
He was willing to faithfully invest in lives.
He did this because he knew why he was in ministry.
Why are you doing what you are doing?
If you are doing it for self it is easier to quit.
(1) C. Paul served Christ with boldness.
(1) C. Paul served Christ with boldness.
20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
He kept back nothing.
He taught thoroughly
He publically announced the Word.
He gave testimony.
This was NOT story telling or entertainment, but teaching from God’s Word.
He taught repentance toward God
He taught faith in Jesus Christ.
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
In season is when people are willing to hear.
Out of season is when they are not.
2. Paul’s burden was to finish well.
2. Paul’s burden was to finish well.
(2) A. Paul was bound to the will of the Holy Spirit.
(2) A. Paul was bound to the will of the Holy Spirit.
22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
Tied or constrained by the Holy Spirit.
He is tied down by...
Though he didn’t know what would happen, just that it would not be good.
Paul did not fear persecution.
Christians are viewed as timid and week.
What is the Holy Spirit prompting you to do?
Do you have the same attitude Paul does?
(2) B. Paul was unmoved from his purpose.
(2) B. Paul was unmoved from his purpose.
24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Do you know your why?
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.