"Farewell To Glad Tidings"
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“Farewell”
Acts 20:17-38
I know that today is a difficult day for most everybody here. Saying goodbye is never easy when you have developed such a love and concern for the people to whom you are saying good bye.
The great prophet, Winnie the Pooh once said, “How Lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
While I mostly agree with Sir Winnie, I differ in my language of the moment. Goodbye is such a final statement. Goodbye indicates that we will never see each other again. Goodbye, by definition, often leaves feelings of abandonment.
Farewell on the other hand leaves it open. It leaves both parties with an anticipation that there will be a reuniting where both parties can share how their lives have been going. Farewell is a communication given when a person departs from others. It is often a wish for good health and wellbeing in the absence of the person.[1]
This afternoon when you leave, when that big UHaul pulls away from Greenfield, no one is saying GOODBYE. We may never see each other again this side of Heaven, but we are guaranteed eternity in the presence of the King if we choose to call on His name, and if we make Him the Lord of our lives.
The Bible deals with farewells at great length. So great in fact that right at half of the book of John takes place in the last week of Jesus’ life. Most of that is Jesus preparing the disciples for His farewell.
This morning I am not going to use Jesus as the example for farewells. I would have to read the last half of the book of John which would leave me no time to preach and us no time to eat.
Fortunately, there is another example of farewells in the Bible.
Paul says farewell often throughout the New Testament, which makes sense considering he travelled planting new churches, and everything he wrote was a letter which by default ends with a farewell.
One example, 2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Short, simple, To the Point.
But in Acts 20: 17-38 Paul gives a more lengthy explanation or discourse as he is saying goodbye.
In fact, in Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians, I believe Glad Tidings learn some things and can find some things to apply in the coming weeks and months.
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 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, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.’ ”
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul starts by getting the leadership team together.
He’s not even in Ephesus at the time, so he is giving his final farewell advice to the elders at a meeting in Miletus.
Remember that Ephesus wasn’t really a great place to be a Christian. In the book of Ephesians we read some of the more militant language relating to the church.
In Ephesians 6 Paul talks about putting on the Whole Armor of God.
He talks about spiritual warfare.
But if we read the rest of the story, we see in Acts 19 that there were also great spiritual victories.
Acts 19 is the last episode of a group of people receiving Spirit Baptism in the book of Acts. Of course, we know that it has continued throughout the New Testament age, and will continue until Jesus returns for His Bride.
The only reason I mention that is to point out that with great opposition comes great blessings…and you don’t necessarily have to have great faith. You have to have a little bit, but Jesus said Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
ANYWAY…
Paul is on his way back to Jerusalem. He summons the Ephesian elders to a meeting to encourage them and tell them farewell.
Look how Paul starts out…
I. Defense of His Ministry
a. Commitment
b. Commitment means different things to different people. The text book definition is: the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
With that definition we can assume that different people have different levels of dedication or commitment. For example, take the young “man” that was writing a note to his girlfriend. As he wrote he laid it on thicker and heavier as he went. He wrote, “My Dear, I would climb the highest mountain, swim the widest stream, cross the burning desert, even die at the stake for you…”
You Truest Love,
John
“P.S. I will see you on Saturday if it doesn’t rain.”
This wasn’t the kind of commitment we are talking about with Paul. Paul’s commitment was the first part of the letter without the P.S.
Paul’s level of commitment involved, shipwrecks, snakebites, and stonings.
Paul’s level of commitment meant praising and worshipping in the midnight hour in spite of the heavy shackles, horrible stench, and wrongful imprisonment.
Paul’s commitment was kind of like the wasp Connor and I watched yesterday…
Paul’s commitment was never say die.
Paul’s commitment was, welp, I got stoned and left for dead in the last town, let’s see what happens here.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
Paul’s level of commitment was first and foremost..
i. Commitment To God and God’s People Acts 20:18-19
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, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
1. Acts 20:31
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
2. Typical of Paul’s ministry where ever he went. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
3. He understood God’s commitment to people, so Paul echoed that same commitment to the people God had given him charge over.
a. “IN CHRIST” Ephesians 1:19-20
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
ii. Commitment To Sharing The Word of God Acts 20:20-21
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Sharing is dependent on KNOWING the Word.
a. Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
b. Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Henrietta Cornelia Mears (October 23, 1890 – March 19, 1963) was a Christian educator, evangelist, and author who had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century and one of the founders of the National Sunday School Association. Best known as the innovative and dynamic Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, California and in charge of the college and young adult people in the mid-1900s, she built a dedicated, enthusiastic staff, trained and mentored her teachers and implemented a graded, age-appropriate curriculum from “cradle roll” to adults. Henrietta lectured and wrote passionately about Sunday school's power to teach others the Bible. Within two years, Sunday School attendance at Hollywood “Pres” was averaging more than 4,200 per week. She served in leading the Sunday School program from 400 to 6500. Henrietta Mears taught the college age program herself. Henrietta Mears was one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century. She founded "Gospel Light"., a publishing company for many of her training materials, Forest Home, a Christian conference center nestled in a wooded setting of California's coastal range, and "Gospel Literature Internationals (GLINT)"., and profoundly impacted the ministries of Bill Bright and Vonette Zachary Bright (Campus Crusade), Jim Rayburn (Young Life) and Billy Graham(Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) and Louis Evans, Jr. who was the organizing pastor of Bel Air Church (where Ronald Reagan and many other stars attended) and led the congregation of the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. with her emphasis on Scripture and a clear Gospel message for young people. Mears is believed by many theologians to have most directly shaped Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws, which defined modern evangelism in the 20th century.
I think we can all agree that that is a pretty impressive resume, BUT LISTEN TO HER TESTIMONY… “Henrietta Mears has testified that one of the major influences in her life was Dr. William Evans, the father of Louis Evans, Sr., honored pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian in Hollywood, California. She stated that “Dr. William Evans had the complete Bible memorized in the King James Version and the New Testament also in the American Standard Version. The young people would delight in giving him passages from either version to quote from memory.”[2]
GREATNESS COMES FROM KNOWING GOD, CARING ABOUT HIS PEOPLE, AND KNOWING AND TEACHING HIS WORD.
iii. Commitment Beyond His Concern for Himself Acts 20:22-25
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.
1. Paul understood from the beginning it wasn’t going to be easy Acts 9:16
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
2. Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Ed McCully. Waodani People… “end of the spear”
iv. Commitment that Produced a Sense of Well-Being and a Clear Conscience Acts 20:26-27
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.
1. Paul had been accused of being a coward, a freeloader, an opportunist, among so many other things, BUT PAUL SAID I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN…
2. I PREACHED THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD
3. 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
II. Encouragement to Fellow Soldiers
a. Be Vigilant in Ministry Acts 20:28-31
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.
i. Troubles Within Your Own Heart
1. Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
2. Revelation 2:4-5
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 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.
3. C.S Lewis “Keep watch over yourselves, The true Christians nostril is to be continually attentive to the inner cesspool.” Letters to Malcom
ii. Troubles From the Outside
1. Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2. Matthew 7:15-16
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
5. Romans 16:17
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
iii. Troubles From Within
1. Acts 20:30
and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
III. Final Advice: Have a Giving Attitude
a. Acts 20:35
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.’ ”
i. Time, Treasure, and Talent
CLOSING
This morning we are blessed to have made the friends that we have made. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to minister in this community. And we are blessed that we can drive away believing that we have done our best to make a difference in Dade County, and in the kingdom of God.
Like Paul, we are being led by the Spirit to a New Area of Operations.
A new mission field.
A new ministry.
We will miss you all, but we know that God has bigger plans for this community and this church.
We will continue to pray for you, this community, and the next pastor.
We look forward to hearing about all of the great things that are happening here at the church and in your lives.
There was one last part of the passage.
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul prayed.
In closing today, Let me Pray for You!
[1]David Witthoff, ed., The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
[2]R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 277.