SPIRITUAL SUCCESS

TEXT: Acts 20:17-21

Introduction: Everyone loves a success story

o   Paul was a success in his service for Christ

o   few people have ever excelled like Paul

o   Paul is a NT pattern for our life, and the work of the church

I.           Paul had the right character

A.        Paul’s character was the result of a right heart attitude

B.        Consistent – 18 [what manner … at all seasons]

1.      Consistency was the jewel of his character

2.      One of the greatest curses of the day is the inconsistency of God’s people inconsistent in their personal devotions

a)      Inconsistent in their personal witness

b)      Inconsistent in the personal giving

c)      Inconsistent in the church attendance

(1)  Most churches never see all their member present at one time

(2)  Many excuses are offered (we have allowed Satan to give us too many excuses for our inconsistency)

3.      How much greater could our influence be if we were consistent in service to God

a)      It is hard to convince others of their need of Christ, if we live as though we don’t need Him

b)      We need to put Christ first in our life, and serve Him consistently

C.        Humble – 19

1.      This word from the Bible is often misunderstood

a)      God commended Moses for this trait

b)      It was always evident in the ministry of Christ

2.      What is humility

a)      People that are humble don’t tell you so

b)      A long face and stooped shoulders is nothing more than a sour disposition and poor posture

c)      Unwillingness to stand for God and against sin is only cowardice and compromise

d)      It is never forgetting what we are: sinners saved by the grace of God

3.      Paul never forgot who he was

a)      A persecutor of the church

b)      A sinner worthy of hell – I Timothy 1:15

c)      He was continually grateful for the salvation that came by the blood of Christ

d)      Paul knew that the only difference between him and the heathen was the grace of God

4.      If we would remember this fact, how much more effective would our service be

a)      If there is one place that all people should be able to meet together, it should be the church

b)      Many churches and people cater to certain classes of people

c)      Many church people are only interested in those that are in or above their income level

d)      This is an abomination to God

e)      Paul witness to the small and great; rich and poor – 21

5.      When we get to good to talk to all people about Jesus Christ, we have lost the meaning of humility

D.        Compassion – 19, 31 [with many tears]

1.      Most Christians only weep over a sad TV program

2.      These same people lose their tears when it comes to lost souls

3.      God wants us to have a broken heart for the lost – Psalm 126:5-6

a)      Think about the terrible crisis they are in

b)      Paul cared about their crisis, and had compassion

4.      If we have no compassion for the lost, we need not expect to see sinners saved

E.        Faithful – 20 [kept back nothing that was profitable]

1.      He was not looking for personal gain, compliments, or recognition

2.      He just wanted to hear Jesus say, "well done, thou good and faithful servant"

3.      We live in a day when people want a preacher to tickle their ear, cater to their vanities, and be charismatic

4.      Many churches never get to hear a "Thus saith the Lord"

5.      Paul preached what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear

6.      Isn’t it strange

a)      A doctor

(1)  We pay, we recommend, and even brag on

(2)  Bad news, awful medicine, needles, pain and surgery

b)      A preacher

(1)  Get mad at, show resentment, threaten to leave the church

(2)  Because he dealt honestly with them from the Word of God

II.         Paul had right methods – 20

A.        Paul practice what he preached [have shown you, and have taught you]

B.        Public preaching and teaching

1.      It is by the foolishness of preaching that some get save – I Corinthians 1:21

2.      Any Christian not faithful to the preaching service is neglecting one way in which God has ordained for souls to be saved

3.      Every vacant seat is an indication that Christians do not really care about the lost

C.        House-to-house visitation

1.      Satan will fight any effort to follow this scriptural practice

2.      There is no substitute for house-to-house visitation

3.      This is the method that God has ordained and the method He will bless

III.       Paul had the right message – 21

A.        In this day of Christian psychology and an emphasis on a social gospel, we need to get back to the message Paul preached

B.        Repentance

1.      This is a forgotten topic today

2.      "Repentance" means a change of mind, sorrow for sin rather than enjoying it

a)      Most preaching today does not address the issue of personal sin and the need for change

b)      It is often difficult to see the difference between these churches and the world

c)      These so called churches have no standards

3.      We have a good example of repentance in the prodigal son – Luke 15:11-32

a)      The sinner got out of the pigpen and went home to the Father

b)      This is an illustration of salvation

c)      When we are ready to get out of the pigpen, He is ready to receive us

d)      Today, most churches would consent to the prodigal son staying in the pigpen, while they try to renovate his poor environment

e)      Many churches today are just glorified pigpens

C.        Faith

1.      Salvation is always a matter of faith in Jesus Christ

2.      Faith without an object never saved anyone

3.      Faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation – Acts 4:12

4.      Today, we live in an hour of crisis

a)      Multitudes are perishing in an eternal hell

b)      Their only hope is to hear of "faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ

5.      1st century methods can produce 1st century results today

CONCLUSION: will you believe the principle set forth in this passage, and put them into practice