EXHORTING THE ELDERS                      The Acts of the Apostles Part 24

The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice

January 29, 2006

Trinity Fellowship

Raton, NM

Acts 20:17-38

HURRYING TO JERUSALEM  (20:16)

PAUL IS WANTING TO GET TO JERUSALEM BY THE DAY OF PENTECOST.  BUT IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE IN V. 13 THAT HE SENT LUKE AND THE OTHERS BY BOAT, WHILE HE WALKED THE 20 MILES FROM TROAS TO MITYLENE, WHERE THEY PICKED HIM UP. 

WHY?

I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE THAT SOMETIMES, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A BUSY MINISTRY, IT’S VITAL THAT WE GET ALONE WITH GOD SOMEWHERE; I THINK PAUL, JUST LIKE JESUS OFTEN DID, NEEDED TO WALK TO CLEAR HIS MIND, TO COMMUNE WITH HIS LORD, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD.  JESUS OFTEN SENT THE DISCIPLES AHEAD, AND WENT UP IN THE HILLS TO PRAY. 

EXHORTATIONS   (18-33)

“FROM THE FIRST DAY I CAME…”

 PAUL GIVES US AN OUTLINE HERE OF HOW TO SERVE THE LORD, WHEN HE CALLS US TO MINISTRY:

            *IMMEDIATELY (FROM THE FIRST DAY)…

            *WITH ALL HUMILITY

            *WITH MANY TRIALS

            *KEEPING BACK NOTHING; PROCLAIMING EVERYTHING

            *PROCLAIMING PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY

            *TESTIFYING TO EVERYONE (JEWS AND GENTILES)

            *PREACHING REPENTANCE TO GOD; FAITH TO JESUS CHRIST

            *“NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME”

 PAUL’S PREMONITIONS OF NEVER SEEING THEM, OF SOMEDAY BEING IN CHAINS, DO NOT DETER HIM FROM HIS CALLING.  IF HE FOLLOWS HIS OWN ADVICE, HIS OWN OUTLINE, HE WILL FINISH THE RACE WITH JOY.

 “I AM INNOCIENT OF BLOOD OF ALL MEN”  (V26)

PAUL, OF ALL PEOPLE, IS NOT INNOCENT OF SHEDDING  BLOOD.  HE HAS SEEN AND CAUSED THE DEATH OF MANY CHRISTIANS, PRIOR TO HIS MEETING CHRIST ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD.  HERE WE SEE AN AMAZING TESTIMONY TO THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS, WHICH COVERS ALL MAGNITUDES OF SIN.  IN GOD’S EYES, PAUL IS COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS, AND THEREFORE TOTALLING RESTORED.  GOD SEES NOTHING ELSE OF HIS PAST SINS.  THEY ARE GONE, SO FAR AS GOD IS CONCERNED.

WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS.  WE HOLD ONTO TO OUR PAST SINS TOO MUCH.

“COMMEND YOU TO GOD”  THOSE CHURCHES’ GOD HAS RAISED UP, GOD ALONE CAN NOW PROTECT.

NO ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN BE THE CHURCH.  PAUL IS ALSO PROPHESYING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING TO ARISE IN THE EPHESIAN CHURCH.   FALSE TEACHERS, WOLVES AMONG LAMBS. 

BUT THE LESSON FOR US IS, WHEN WE BEGIN TO FOLLOW RELIGIOUSLY ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE TEACHER, ONE PREACHER, WE’RE IN FOR A FALL.

(V 32;  “I COMMEND YOU TO GOD AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, WHISH IC ABLE TO BUILD YOU UPA ND GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE AMONG ALL THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED”

I CHALLENGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO PREACH AND TEACH GOD’S WORD.  BUT I CHALLENGE YOU TO TEST ALL SUCH TEACHINGS YOURSELF AGAINST THE VERY WORD OF GOD. 

©2006, Richard C. Trice & TriceTunes, all rights reserved.  (If you reprint this sermon in part or in whole please include the above copyright)