KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:33. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

Apostle Paul tells us in our key scripture that he has coveted no man’s apparel. Apparel is a garment or dress. Well, it could also go for any other possession of others. Paul says over here that I have not set my heart upon anyone’s possession.

This is a very important stands of a godly leader or shepherd. There is always a temptation that, since you are the overseer, you automatically owe them and everything they have. Such thinking is devilish. There might be instances where certain pastors or prophets might have taken advantage of people. Some use all kinds of crafty means to take advantage of others’ money, cars or even their homes. Some pastors do take advantage of certain women, because they consulted them, with a need. King Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard, and when he could not get it from him, his wife Jezebel scandalised him (Naboth), and so, he was slain. Ahab took this vineyard to satisfy his desire. It would be very strange for any servant of God to go that way.

Please, dear child of God and minister of the flock of God, the congregation is not yours. They are not your property. They are God’s flock and His own possession. He purchased them with His own blood. He had to forfeit His throne, become a man, and undergo so much torture. He became sin and, for the first time, had to be separated from His father. He did all these so He could redeem them from hell and Satan’s grip. He has identified himself with the sheep. If you, as a shepherd, are intolerant and manipulate them, you are directly maltreating the Lord Jesus himself. Such an act would call for outright anger and retribution against you. Covetousness is sin. It is a faithless act. It is a clear sign that you do not trust that God can give you that thing you are coveting.

What is the answer for covetousness? Heb 13:5 &6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 Note, God’s presence is your greatest asset, and that can deliver whatever you need if you would believe him

CONFESSION

The Lord is my portion. He is ever present with me, and I am content with what I have. All things are mine, and by faith in Him, every need is met in Jesus’ name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Exodus 20:17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’ s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Psalms 119:36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:32. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

Apostle Paul continues with his farewell message to the brethren in Ephesus, telling them areas that they should be cautious about. In Acts 20:30, he tells them that after he had left, there would be some from their midst who would rise to draw disciples unto themselves. Such people speak perverse things to draw disciples or followers. They accuse the leaders of coming up with contrary doctrines to draw away disciples. Why do such things occur? People do these things with all kinds of motivations. The underlying point is the projection of self-interest, not Christ’s interest.

After all these cautions, he directs them to the most secure grounds. In verse 32, he says, “And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.” The word of God is our light that delivers us from the deceptions of the devil.  Psalm 36:9 says, “For with thee is light and in thy light, we shall see light.” In this end time, when Satan has vomited every kind of unclean thing into the world, we must secure ourselves by clothing ourselves with light, which is God’s word. Please note, he reminded them to keep faith with the word of God. You can never miss your way if you stick to the divine map to navigate your way through this life.

 Now, note that the word he is commending to us is about God’s grace. The grace of God is God’s divine provision that transforms us from mortal limitations to supernatural limitlessness. Apostle Peter put it this way in 2nd Peter 1:4: “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” It is the exceeding great promises or word of his grace that gives us supernatural participation for a lifetime of victories.

 Please get to know God through his word. The word would build you up. Read the word for yourselves, study it, and you would be able to discern error from truth. The word would also deliver unto your hand your inheritance or what Jesus won for us through his death and resurrection. In your commitment to the word, no one would be able to deceive you.

 CONFESSION

In this world of gross darkness, the word of God is my only source of light. I delight in it and meditate on it day and night. I also do what the word says. My way is made prosperous, and I have good success.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.

 Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20:28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 Apostle Paul gave the brethren of Ephesus two instructions in our key scripture.  They are

(1) Take heed to yourself.

(2) Take heed to the flock of God.

We considered the first part of our previous study. In today’s study, we would consider the second aspect of his instruction. This is to take heed to the flock of God, which He purchased with his blood.

The very first point is to note that the flock is the Lord’s, not yours. You are a steward of God’s flock and must work with that understanding. This implies that you would be rewarded if you diligently and sacrificially serve them. God will also hold you to account if you fail to serve them diligently and sacrificially.

The first act or step to take heed to concerning the flock of God is to intercede for the flock. Intercession is standing in the gap for God to intervene. Paul testified of Epaphras in Colossians 4:12 as follows, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salute you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”. Epaphras laboured fervently for the brethren in Ephesus that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Dear brother, sister, or pastor, prayer is work. He laboured or toiled fervently in prayer always for them. The devil will have a field day if the brethren are not covered with prayer. Lazy men cannot be effective pastors.

The next thing to do for the flock of God is to teach and preach the word of God to the brethren or the flock of God. In 2nd Timothy 4:2, Apostle Paul gave the following charge to pastor Timothy: “preach the word, be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”. Timothy must preach and teach at any available time. You must reprove, that is, correct them and also rebuke or to straighten them up.

Thirdly, you have to exhort or comfort them. All these would help them to keep going on in the Christian race.

As a shepherd of the flock of God, you would have to visit them periodically to know how they are doing. The Shepherd must also train the flock to get involved in evangelistic work and also learn all the disciplines of Christian faith which includes fasting, prayer, giving, tithing, fellowshipping, Bible studies, and any other discipline that would help them to grow into spiritual adulthood.   It is a great thing to serve the flock of God. It is a greater thing if you do it sacrificially.

CONFESSION

I am a servant of the flock of God, in love and humility. I offer my life sacrificially to serve God’s own sheep. My ultimate goal in all these is to get every sheep to heaven.

FURTHER STUDIES:

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men”.

1 Peter 5:2 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:28. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

   Apostle Paul now gives specific instructions to the leaders of the Ephesian Church. He tells them to take care or heed to themselves and of the flock of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

We would first consider his instruction to them about taking heed to themselves. The meaning of the word “taking heed” is “to hold the mind toward or pay attention to, or further still to be cautious about.

Every leader must first be cautious and give careful attention to how stable or strong he stand in the Lord. A weak man cannot lift other weaker people. Neither can the blind lead the blind. Taking heed to yourself first means you must maintain your fellowship or devotion unto the Lord. Jesus said to His disciples that I am the Vine and you are the branches. You can do nothing unless you abide in me. You must maintain your roots deep in him and receive nourishment from him. The word of God is our spiritual food. Matt. 4:4. “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. The word of God is the thoughts of God expressed in vocabulary, To the degree that God’s word has filled you and you are submitted to it, to that same degree that has God has filled you. The word is God. The leader must take heed to the word. He does not study to preach, but he studies to build himself up. The word will build you up.

The leader also takes heed to himself through prayer. Prayer builds up the believer’s faith and receives strength from the spirit of God. Jude 1:20. A prayerless leader is a powerless leader. He must pay attention to everything that keeps him strong as a child of God. He must keep himself from sin. Like any kind of sickness, one must not allow it into his life. Such are sins. As a leader of God’s flock, you must keep yourself from sin. Sin is a reproach unto any people, but righteousness exalts a nation. Prov. 14:34. Take heed to yourself by practising the word. This would put strength into you. You also take heed to yourself by feeding fat on messages of enlightened or anointed men of God. There are messages from men who have proven themselves over the years as faithful men of God. They have their books, audio, and video recorded materials. You can also find their messages on YouTube.  Get them and feed on them.

CONFESSION

I take heed to myself as a child of God. God’s word is my delight, and I do whatever the word says. Sin has no place in me. My impact in this life keeps soaring high to God’s glory.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Acts 20:32. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Romans 12:11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:26 “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men”.

 Apostle Paul continues his farewell message to the brethren at Ephesus. This time, he says he is pure from the blood of all men. This is a very serious statement to make. He claims he has spoken to everyone there.

It takes very diligent people to speak this way. I believe he was referring to the brethren in the Ephesian church. He says further that he has given or shared with them the whole counsel of God. He meant he had taken the pain to share everything about the kingdom with them.  Some pastors don’t teach their congregations the whole counsel of God. Some majors are only in a few areas. Many pastors talk about blessing and miracles, and that is all. This is good, yet not complete. They are not taught about the doctrine of God, salvation, atonement, and many other things.  Surprisingly, some of the people in these churches cannot share the message of salvation with an enquirer.

I have met some people who are Muslims but were formerly Christians. Many of them believed that Christians and Muslims are serving the same God. To such people, leaving Christianity for Islam is no problem because we are all serving the same God, that is their claim.  Such problems emanate because they have not been taught the counsel of God.  If they had been exposed to the truth, they would never think this way.  Christians and Muslims are not worshipping the same God. We worship God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our heavenly Father gave birth to us through the Word and His Spirit (John 3:3 -6). The Muslim God does not give birth to sons and daughters. Islam claims Jesus was never crucified (Surah 4:157), yet the whole foundation of Christianity is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord, by which we are saved. There are many more differences, but this would be for another time.  If these brethren had been exposed to the whole truth about God’s word, they would never have accepted to go into Islam in the first place.

Some congregations have never heard of the teachings of hellfire. The Lord Jesus spoke so much on this topic, yet some Christians are deprived of this teaching.

A lot of congregations are made up of converts or Christians who have not been established in the fundamental teachings of the faith.  The challenge or the problem is caused by their leaders. Dear child of God, Christianity is not about blessings or miracles only. There are teachings concerning suffering for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:29 reads, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Christians must be taught the whole counsel of God. (The challenge is how can such brethren get to know the whole truth? Please share such messages and postings with many contacts as much as possible.

 PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, may I play my role of communicating your truth to as many as I relate and even go out of my way to share with others who have not been exposed to the truth in Jesus’ name.

FURTHER STUDY:

 Hebrews 6:1-2 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:  Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

 Apostle Paul acknowledges that the Holy Spirit testifies to him that afflictions and persecutions await him in Jerusalem. In verse 24, he declares that he is not moved by the situation that lay before him.

  What made Apostle Paul so fearless and not worry about his life? Paul was a spiritual man. He was spiritually minded. If he had been carnal, he would have considered the threat to his life. Many Christian men have been engrossed with getting wealth and living by the comforts of this world. They live as if there is no heaven. A man of such persuasion cannot talk like Paul did. Carnality is the cause of a lack of commitment to the cause of Christ.

 Apostle Paul says it is his goal to finish his course with joy and the ministry that he has received from the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the ministry that the Lord Jesus Christ has given to us?  Our ministry as people of God is to testify to the gospel of the grace of God and to keep at it till we meet our Lord. Our ministry is not to make wealth. The wealth is a means to fulfil the real mission. It is not to make a name for ourselves. There is a deceptive spirit that has taken over many servants of God.  That is the idea of the word BREAKTHROUGH. This idea of breakthrough to many means having a big ministry that brings a lot of money, and life becomes very comfortable for the man of God. In Apostle Paul’s testimony, he says his mission and focus are to testify to the grace of God. Winning the world for Christ is our breakthrough. A breakthrough in the concept of Paul is reaching many with the gospel of God’s grace. The outcome, like that of wealth, should be very secondary. Matthew 6:33 says it all. ” Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 Dear fellow Christian and specifically servants of God, we have been enlisted by our master into his harvest field. We are his labourers. The earthly, temporary rewards should never get our attention. What he has called us to do should be our goal. Finishing it must be our joy. This earth is a temporal place, yet our role and actions determine our ultimate eternal state.  But our success is to be fulfilling the master’s tasks, not how many members we have and the affluence that goes with it. Europe is being populated by Muslim immigrants. Some places give no liberties to the preaching of the gospel. Our breakthrough is to conquer all these places with the gospel of the grace of God.  Arise, O giants of the Spirit of God, wash off every scale from your eyes, and win for our master.

   PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, I refuse to be carnal but to commit my life to pleasing you and to finish the race and mission with Joy. Make my forehead as hard as a flint so nothing would hinder me from overcoming it.

 FURTHER STUDY:

 Philippians 3:12-14 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

From our key scripture, Paul says he taught them publicly and from house to house. This involves mass meetings as well as one-on-one meetings.

  Our Lord Jesus, in his days on the earth, employed the same principle. He taught the people en masse and one-on-one.  Nicodemus, the Jewish lawyer, came to him by night. The Lord had the patience to explain a whole lot of things to him. Paul’s teachings in the public places and in their houses were not by special invitation. He purposefully went around in search of people to share the Gospel with. Do not feel too big going around knocking on doors to share the Gospel with people. Would the master himself have done this if he were around? I believe he would. Mass meetings do a lot of good, yet personal efforts are easily assessed and can be monitored well.

     In verse 21, he talked about some of the things he taught.

“Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. ” Paul preached repentance from all wrong notions about God. The Jews could not see God as their father, and neither could they think of him as one whom they could relate. The Greeks also thought of God as an idol made by human hands. They also needed to change their minds concerning God. One of Satan’s attacks against humanity is to paint God differently from who he is. Many people, because of challenges and difficulties, see God as one who is not blessing them and not making things easy for them. Man needs to repent from a whole lot of things about our Father God. This is the reason every child of God must know the truth and boldly talk about Him.

 They were also to exercise their faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, every divine provision is settled.  It is faith in Him that gives access to the grace of God.

  He adds in verse 22 that he goes “bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall him.” He said this in the fact that there have been countless prophecies that in Jerusalem, the Jews would take hold of him, bind him, and send him to Rome. He knew afflictions and tribulations awaited him in Jerusalem, yet he was ready to go. Why did Paul not stay away from all these problems? This is for us to answer.

  PRAYER

Father in Heaven, I pray that as I study your word and fellowship with your spirit, help me to effectively share your word to the many that Satan has held in deception.

FURTHER STUDY:

Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying-in wait of the Jews:

Read Acts 20:17-33

Apostle Paul speaks to the leaders of the church in Ephesus before going to Jerusalem. He knew he would not see them again. He then gave them his last words.

Apostle Paul began by telling them the attitude and manner with which he served God in their midst. He did not refer to himself as leading them but serving them. He said he served the Lord in humility of mind. This is an exhortation that every leader, pastor in the house of God, must learn. Paul meant he worked or served with the mentality that God would one day reward his work, and so he had to put up with every meek attitude. Every leader must always carry a humble attitude, for if you lose sight of the fact that you are serving under God, pride would easily set in, and you would begin to do things as if you were of yourself. Many leaders in the house of God have fallen into all kinds of deceptive sins because they begin to feel they are the ultimate or above everybody. It is a big error to think that you are above everybody in the house of God.

 Do not think of your function or role as a position but just a duty and a divine responsibility. It is what you do that has offered you the privilege to be where you are. Our Father, God, has appointed each of us in his vineyard. Now listen, dear leader, YOU ARE NOT SUPERIOR TO ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. We are all equal in the sight of God, playing various roles. Your function demands special honour from others so that the work will be effectively done. 1st Timothy 5:17” Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching.” God has designed that leaders who Labour in teaching in the house of GOD must be given double honour, they must be appreciated as well. As they give honour to you, you must likewise humble yourself towards them by showing true love for them. In this way, you will give 6 for them as well as endure certain temptations. (Acts 20:31). He meant he served with a strong awareness of the presence of God that was with him and his purpose that must be done.

 PRAYER

My heavenly father, I pray that we will all serve in your vineyard with meekness and reverence for you, working out our salvation with fear and trembling.

FURTHER STUDIES

1st Peter 5:2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1st Peter 5:4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

KEY SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20:11. Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.

In our key scripture, Apostle Paul shared with the brethren and continued till dawn. This event has a number of issues to teach us. The first lesson to consider is the diligence of Apostle Paul, who stood on his feet to share the gospel for almost eighteen hours and over.  I believe he was sustained by the Holy Spirit’s power. I also believe he was a man who did not overindulge himself, so he had a lot of energy within him. From the previous stories we read about the apostle, we saw he was a very active man who had a lot of movement during the many journeys he made. I believe all these things contributed to his being strong.

Secondly, the brethren were also ready to stay up even till the next morning. They were simply amazing.

These people really wanted more from the Lord. The bible did not say that any left the meeting, or some of them demanded the early closure of the meeting. Some people easily get agitated when the meeting is delayed by a few hours or a few minutes after the scheduled time. Someone would say these people had nothing important to do, and so they stayed. Dear brother, what is as important as receiving the word of God?

In Luke 10:38,41, the Lord visited Martha and Mary, but Martha was involved with cooking and other household chores. She got desperate and complained to Jesus as follows, ´ Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her, therefore, that she helps me. The Lord also answered her as follows: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, only one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”. The Lord said one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part. What was it? Mary had chosen to attend to the word of God. The Lord calls it the good part, and no one shall take it from her. Please, may we learn some wisdom from the master? Giving attention to the word of God is the only good thing, and it shall never be taken away from you. Every other achievement we obtain as humans outside the word of God would be left here in this physical world. Those who receive God’s word into their spirit shall have it with them into the next world.

CONFESSION

 I do not get myself occupied with other things, I seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and so all other things are added unto me.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.