Paul has finished his third mission trip and is heading for Jerusalem. The focal point of the third mission trip was Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. After spending 3 years ministering in Ephesus, Paul went though Macedonia where he spent 3 months and then headed for Jerusalem. On the way in Troas there was incident of Eutychus falling out the window and dieing, but as a result of God raising him up, many people were encouraged. From there Paul sailed to Assos and from there to Mitylene, then on to Samos. The next day they arrived at Miletus. “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church” (17) and gave his farewell message to them. This was because “Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.” (16)
In today’s passage Paul’s farewell message is recorded. In the Bible there are several messages of Paul to the Jews or to the Gentiles that are recorded, but there are only a few messages like this to Christians. That means that this message is very important, and that its contents are very moving. It continues to verse 35 so it is a little long so we will look at it for 2 weeks. Paul’s message is made up into 3 parts. In verses 18 to 21 Paul reminisces about his ministry up till now. In verses 22 to 27 he shares his heart and what he is thinking about now. Finally in verses 28 to 35 he advises what they should do from now on.
Today let’s look at the first 2 sections. From this part of Paul’s farewell message let’s consider 3 aspects of the preparing our hearts to be a witness to the Gospel.
I. A serving servant (vs. 18-21)
First of all Paul tells us to be a servant that serves. He reminisces how he has lived up until now. In other words he tells us about his basic lifestyle, the way he lived his life. His life was a life of “serving the Lord”. It was being a slave of Jesus Christ, a servant, serving the Gospel, and serving the church. This is concretely written here.
First of all Paul “served the Lord with great humility and with tears” (18)
although he “was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.” (18) “with great humility” (18) means that he strove not to stand out in front, but to only show Jesus Christ not himself. “with tears” is used in the same way in verse 31. It means wearing the other person’s shoes, being absorbed in working for the other person’s salvation and benefit In other words, having humility, love, and patience and earnestly serving the Lord.
The way he did this was he did not hesitate to preach anything that would be helpful to them and taught them publicly and from house to house to “turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”(21) “Publicly” (20) refers to in the Jewish synagogue, and at the lecture hall of Tyrannus and at all other public places. On the other hand, “from house to house” (20) refers to visiting homes, meetings held in homes, etc. “to you” actually means “to each individual person、in other words, personal evangelism.
In other words, Paul, that others might be saved always forgot about himself, using his mouth and also his body and in tears, he declared everywhere and to every one “turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (21) He had that type of lifestyle. His whole life was focused on God. He thought only about God and was controlled by him. If you pulled him away from God, the person Paul would be empty. His heart was controlled by God. In verse 24 he said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” At the present time, Paul is going to go to Jerusalem, but he doesn’t know what will occur. All he knows is that he will face “prison and hardships” (23) However, even if that means dying he considers his life worth nothing. He is concentrating on earnestly serving the Lord, and intently continues walking on that road. Paul is saying this not because he wants their sympathy, but because he wants them to understand him. He is also saying this to show what a person who serves the Gospel’s lifestyle is like. Paul often says to imitate him. The central thing that should be imitated is Paul’s lifestyle of serving the Lord. This morning we want to receive his earnestness and intentness to serve the Lord . .
II. Living by the priority of your calling (vs.22-25)
Next Paul is preaching about the present circumstances that he is in and what he anticipates will happen to him. Here the number one reason why Paul who served the Lord, could continue to do so is given. That is because he was “compelled by the Spirit” (22) to do so. When Paul goes to Jerusalem, he doesn’t know what will occur. He does know however that he will face “prison and hardships” (23) Even so, he won’t run away because he is “compelled by the Spirit” (22) to “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given (him)- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (24)
Paul made his calling his number 1 priority. He put the Lord’s thoughts above himself. He wasn’t caught up in his own life or death. In reality, when Paul went to Jerusalem, he was arrested, put in chains and put in prison. However it isn’t the chains that are holding him. It is the Holy Spirit. He is under the power of Jesus Christ so for Christ he becomes a prisoner and goes to Jerusalem. It doesn’t matter what happens there because Jesus will lead him down the road that he is supposed to run. It is Paul’s priority to continue on that road. He has to continue on that road because he is under the power of Jesus, he is “compelled by the Spirit” (22) He has to “finish the race and complete the task.” (24) This is what a person who is controlled by Jesus, a servant is like. Paul wanted to show this to the Ephesian church’s elders.
Are you under the power of Jesus Christ? Or are you controlled by other things? If you are controlled by your work, your school, or your family or your future, or any other thing than Jesus Christ or if you are not compelled by the Spirit, then all is meaningless. What you are doing is just self expression. No matter what we are doing, we need through our environment and ministry make “the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (24) our number 1 priority in our life.
II Cor. 5:14
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that” Jesus died for us (II Cor. 5:14) so our hearts are “compelled by the Spirit.” (22) Therefore, let’s make Christ’s desires the first priority in our lives. That is what Christ’s servants are like.
III. Fulfill the job that we are given (vs. 26,27)
The third aspect of a servant of Christ is that they fulfill the job that they are given. Here Paul says “I am innocent of the blood of all men.” (26)
Ezekiel 3:16-21
These are words of the Lord to Ezekiel. Here God is saying that he had made Ezekiel a watchman over the house of Israel. A watchman is a person who when he hears the Word of God, he then tells the people the Words in the Lord’s place. He doesn’t know if the people will accept the warning or not. Even if the people did not accept the warning, the watchman did not have to take on the responsibility with his life. The only thing the watchman had to do was to speak the words of his Lord. That was the watchman’s responsibility
Probably that is why Paul is saying here that he has no responsibility for the judgment that will come upon all mankind. Paul will only be judged on whether he spoke the Words of the Lord or not. If he fulfilled the job of spreading the gospel, then he will not need to take responsibility for those who did not believe with his life. Even if the people do not believe, it is the responsibility of the hearers, not Paul. The job that we are responsible for, is sharing the Good News of the grace of God. Paul was able to give his life to sharing the Gospel because he realized that he had responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and the upcoming judgment. Christians mustn’t think that it is enough just to be able to go to heaven. We must fulfill the job that we are called to do. We need to intently share the Gospel of God to our family, relatives, and friends so that we can say to them like Paul did that we are not responsible for the judgment that is coming upon them “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” (27)
Jesus told us to look at the fields because they are ripe and ready for harvest. (John 4:35) Sometimes we think that the fields aren’t ripe when they really are. We think that a person won’t be saved now if ever. However, in reality they are ready to hear the Gospel.
Rev. Yasuro Enomoto was passing out tracts in a hospital. There was one person that he thought that he wouldn’t give a tract to. That person was a group leader in the Yakuza. He figured that it was of no meaning to give a tract to such a person. When he tried to sneak past the person, the person yelled, “Hey! Give one to me too!” so he gave the person one. Right after that one of the people under the Yakuza group leader came to Rev. Enomoto and said that he had been sent to bring the pastor to Yakuza group leader. In reality in the hospital the person closest to God was the Yakuza group leader.
Sometimes we think, “this person will never become a Christian” so we don’t share the Gospel with him. However, sometimes a person that we never dreamed would accept the Lord does sooner than others. We shouldn’t be selective but boldly plant seeds. If we do that, and are intently planting seeds, all at once we’ll be harvesting. When we plant seeds we have to wait before they are harvested. However, now is the age of grace so God prepares the seeds and the harvest. “Now is the time of salvation.” We need to put the emphasis on the “now”. It is important to be like Paul and always be sharing about Christ to everyone. Then planting and harvesting will occur at the same time. We need to preach the Gospel. God will work in their hearts. However, whether they believe or not is up to the person. We don’t need to think that they have to believe. We just need to share the Gospel. If the person believes, out of his heart will flow the river of living life. However, until that time the person may not be thankful for us sharing the Gospel, but even so we need to continue preaching the Word of God.
Look at the ripe fields that are ready for harvest. Being encouraged by the Word of God let’s keep our eyes on the fields and do the work of the Lord. Like Paul, let’s be controlled by Christ. Let’s give up ourselves, and with tears always share the Gospel of grace everywhere, and to everyone, that by our lips and actions others might be saved,. No matter what the result is, let’s fulfill the job that we have been given.