KEY SCRIPTURE Acts 21:4. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

In chapter 21 apostle Paul follows up on his mission to go to Jerusalem. When they got to Tyre some disciples came to him and spoke by the Spirit, that Paul should not go to Jerusalem. Paul had had a similar warning in some of the cities he visited.

Paul went ahead with his agenda to go to Jerusalem. Why didn’t he heed this warning, although the bible said they spoke by the power of the Spirit? (The bible only reported what the disciples said was the instruction of the Spirit) His decision to go has a lot of questions to answer. Did Paul really know that the Spirit was asking him not to go? I can’t answer certainly, yet in all the studies we’ve done on the life of Paul we see that he did not count his life dear unto himself. Apostle Paul was a man of the Spirit and would not just disobey the voice or instruction of the Spirit. The following verse lays every question and doubt to rest. Acts 23:11 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome”. In Acts 23:11, the Lord Jesus himself stood beside Paul and told him that he must get to Rome and preach the gospel over there too.

The issue at stake is why did these disciples in Tyre say the Holy Spirit was asking Paul not to go to Jerusalem and subsequently to Rome? Many times, we may receive a clear word from the Spirit about a situation, yet we must ask the Holy Spirit His next instruction, about what must be done. This I believe was the error of these disciples from Tyre. The Lord Himself stood beside Paul and told him; he would have to be in Rome to testify over there too, how could the Holy Spirit turn around to tell these disciples that he should not go to Jerusalem which would lead him to Rome ultimately?

Everyone one of us children of God must be very diligent to wait enough for full and clear instructions from the Holy Spirit before going about to say it or we ourselves acting on what we might have received.   NEVER MAKE CONCLUSIONS FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PRAYER

I pray in the name of JESUS, that I may be extra sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice, that my way shall always be very clear to bring glory and honour unto the Lord

FURTHER STUDIES

John 16:13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Romans 8:9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:38. “Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.”

Apostle Paul brings his counsel to a close and knelt together with the brethren and prayed with them. They fell on his neck kissed him and started sorrowing.

They cried because he had told them that they were only seeing him for the very last time. Paul had served so diligently, so parting was a very sad event for them. One thing almost all humans cannot face is parting away from loved ones. These are events that we must all brace ourselves for. Men as mortals as we are, would one day have to part from each other.

Paul had told them they were not going to see him again. From apostle Paul’s experience with the brethren, we must take a clue to serve the body of Christ very diligently so we may leave a lasting influence on them. Parting should not be our focus but, the investment we make in them, bringing them into maturity in  the Lord.

In Philippians 1:22, apostle Paul reveals his dilemma about whether to depart and go and be with the Lord or to stay in the flesh and serve the body of Christ. Philippians 1:23-24. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

He says that he chooses to stay, with one sole purpose; that he would keep blessing the Church of God. Let us all resolve to give every energy in us to serve Him in various ways possible. This is the reason we are still alive.

CONFESSION

He saved me to serve Him I commit my life, time and energy to please Him, by serving the body of Christ in various Capacities. This is the real joy of living.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 13:36 ” For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:”

John 9:4 ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 20:35 ” I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

Apostle Paul instructs the brethren on certain important issues that they must consider. He says he has showed them all things. He taught them by teaching and by example. In Acts 20:34 he reminded them of how he laboured with his hands to support himself and they that were with him.

 Acts 20:34 “Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. Apostle Paul was a tentmaker and practiced this craft to make a living for himself and the brethren who were with him. Acts 18:3 “And because he was of the same craft, he abodes with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers”. There is nothing wrong for a minister of the gospel to labour with his hands in order to support himself and the work as a whole. It was the desire of Apostle Paul to demonstrate by example that one has to labour with his hands.

What do we say about those ministers who do not do any work to support the work? It all depends on the demand of the work that one has to attend to as well as what the Lord asks him to do. The Lord Jesus did no work because there was so much for him to do.

There are occasions that the Lord instructs one on the terms of his engagement in working for Him. The following verse shows us an instant. Luke 9:3 “And he said unto them, take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece” In this instant the Lord gives specific terms for the work. They were to trust the Lord totally for support as He would use others to bless them. Luke 9:4 “And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart”.

The reason for Paul talking to them about laboring with their hands is also to be able to support the weak. He added that as the Lord had said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. We must always consider others in every sphere of life we find ourselves. We are one another’s keeper. Nothing in creation was made to serve itself alone. Everything was created to benefit other people and other things. You are an answer to someone’s questions. NEVER FORGET THAT.

CONFESSION

God created all things to solve particular solutions. I am a solution to the needs of others, therefore I do not live for myself but, to bring smiles to a weeping eye. My life is also made fruitful and exciting because the joy of others becomes my satisfaction.

FURTHER STUDIES

Thessalonians 2:9. “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

1 Corinthians 4:12. “And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:”

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. An 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 over seer, then you automatically owe them and everything they have. Such a 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 other’s money, cars or even their homes. King Ahab coveted for Naboth vineyard and when he could not get it from him, his wife Jezebel scandalized him (Naboth) and so, was slayed. 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, became a man and undergo so much torturing. 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 is intolerant and manipulate them, you are directly maltreating the Lord Jesus himself. Such an act would call for an 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 after.

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

Ex 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.

Ps 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 up to draw disciples unto themselves. Such people speak perverse things in order to draw disciples or followers. They accuse the leaders or come up with contrary doctrines to draw away disciples. Why do such things occur? People do these things with all kinds of motivations. The underlining point is the projection of self-interest and not Christ interest. To have a clearer understanding of such actions and how to prevent them, I suggest you get Bishop Dag Heward-Mill’s books on loyalty and disloyalty as well as other related materials authored by him.

  After all these cautions, he directs them to the most secured 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 unto the world, we must secure ourselves by clothing ourselves with light which is God’s word.

  Now note that the word that 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 life time of victories.

 Please get to know God through his word. The word would build you up. Read the word for yourselves, study it always 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 the availability of the word do not allow anyone 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 20:29. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

  Apostle Paul prophecies to the leaders of the Ephesian church, that after he has left and gone, grievous wolves would enter in or take over and would not spare the flock.

  Apostle Paul cautions the brethren that after his departure, grievous or dangerous wolves will take over. In Paul’s days, false teachings were mostly Jewish legalistic teachers who would come in as Christians but would teach against the grace of God, project the laws of Moses.

 There are craftier ‘wolves’ in our time as well. These days there are certain people with fetish or occultist influences who preach from the bible to deceive many. These people usually have ritual practices that turn people’s faith from the Lord Jesus Christ into other objects. Beloved brethren any pastor or man of God who asks you to sacrifice any form of blood; that man is a false prophet. Our Lord Jesus is the last and perfect blood sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all mankind. Hebrews 9:12 reads, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the Holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Our Lord Jesus entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven ONCE and obtained an ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us. Presently, any blood sacrifice of any animal goes to the devil and not our heavenly father.

 These are false prophets who wisely extort various sums of money from helpless church people. They sell all kinds of objects ranging from different kinds of oils for enquirers to pray with. They also sell hand bands, stickers and many more. I wish to clarify a point here. There are some who sell these objects as a means of raising funds to develop the church for the common good of all. Such people do not take the monies for their personal use but to benefit the wider group of the people. One way to know whether a man is teaching truth or error, is to consider, who such a one is projecting. Is he projecting the Lord JESUS or something else?

May you not fall into the hands of any false prophet because of frustration.

  PRAYER

I pray that I would be very sensitive to discern the truth from error anytime I encounter one in Jesus name

FURTHER STUDIES

 Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

 Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

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 in 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, you would be rewarded if you diligently and sacrificially serve them. God will also hold you to book 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 fields 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 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 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 to 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 or give careful attention to how stable or strong that he stands 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 proceed 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 practicing 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.  There are some pastors who don’t teach their congregation the whole counsel of God. Some major only in a few areas. A lot 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 and atonement and many more.  It is surprising that some of the people in these churches cannot share the message of salvation to an enquirer.

I have met some people who are Muslims but were formerly Christians. A lot 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 worshiping 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.

   There are some congregations who have never heard of the teachings of hell fire. 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  to many contacts as much as possible).

 PRAYER

Dear heavenly, Father may I play my role of communicating your truth to as many that 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 about the situation that lay before him.

  What made Apostle Paul to be so fearless and not to be worried for 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. There are many men of God who have been engrossed with getting wealth and living by the comfort of this world. They lives as if there is no heaven. A man of such persuasion cannot talk like Paul did. Carnality is the cause of lack of commitment to the cause of Christ

    Apostle Paul says it is his goal to finish his course with joy, and the ministry which 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 fulfill the real mission. It is not to make a name for ourselves. There is a deceptive spirit which 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 is to testify of the grace of God. Winning the world for Christ is our breakthrough. 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 it’s 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, there are some places that gives 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.”