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Turn with me in your Bibles to 
Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20, we're on the tail end of 
the third missionary journey conducted by the Apostle Paul. The main spot or the main area 
of ministry was in the city of Ephesus. We see this recorded 
in chapter 18, verse 23, all the way to chapter 21 to verse 
16, dated in AD 53 to 57. So the third missionary journey, 
Paul is on his way back to Syria, Antioch in Syria, and then to 
Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem there he will meet with James, and 
he will bring monies collected from the Gentile churches to 
present to the church in Jerusalem. So last week we saw the journeys 
in Greece, the ministry there at Troas, and then this morning 
we're going to take up this exhortation to the Ephesian elders. So I 
want to begin reading in verse 17 in Acts chapter 20. From Miletus, 
he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 
And when they had come to him, he said to them, you know, from 
the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always 
lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with 
many tears and trials, which happened to me by the plotting 
of the Jews. how I kept back nothing that 
was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly 
and from house to house, testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance 
toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now 
I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will 
happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in 
every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But 
none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to 
myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry 
which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel 
of the grace of God. And indeed, now I know that you 
all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see 
my face no more. Therefore, I testify to you this 
day that I am innocent of the blood of all men, for I have 
not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore, 
take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the 
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, 
which he purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that 
after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 
the flock. Also from among yourselves men 
will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples 
after themselves. Therefore watch and remember 
that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night 
and day with tears. So 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 all those who are sanctified. 
I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you 
yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities 
and for those who are with me. I have shown you in every way 
by laboring like this that you must support the weak. And remember 
the words of the Lord Jesus, that He 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. Then they all wept 
freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most 
of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his 
face no more. And they accompanied him to the 
ship. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father, 
we thank You for this written Word of the living and true God. 
We confess and acknowledge that it's profitable for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. 
And we pray that You would thoroughly furnish each of us unto every 
good work. And to this end, Father, we pray 
for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God, if we don't have 
Him guiding us and leading us and teaching us and illuminating 
our minds, then this is a vain effort. We ask that he would 
help us now to see the truth as it is in Jesus. Help us to 
see the value, the exceeding value of the gospel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. And again, forgive us for all 
sin and anything that would darken our understanding. And we pray 
this in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, as I said, the Apostle 
is on his way back specifically to Jerusalem. He wants to go 
there, he wants to meet with James, he wants to bring the 
monies that had been collected for the relief of the suffering 
saints there in Jerusalem. Along the way, he has all of 
these attendants. He has various men, various companions 
with him. such that when he does get into 
Jerusalem, he's able to show the glory of God in the salvation 
of sinners from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. These 
men that hail from different parts of the Roman Empire at 
that particular time is the fruit and the evidence that God is 
saving, that new covenant realities have obtained, and that the gospel 
is going forth. So it's a wonderful time in the 
life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. So when he stops here at 
Miletus, he does so according to verse 16, he doesn't want 
to go into Ephesus, not because he doesn't like the Ephesians. 
Again, he spent three years there, but he knows that if he does 
stop there, it will probably detain him too long and that 
he won't reach his destination in time. So while stopped in 
Miletus, perhaps to reload the boat, get everything in order 
for this long voyage that they need to make, the Apostle sends 
for these elders from Ephesus so that he can instruct them. 
This is the longest, I think, one of the only addresses in 
the Book of Acts that comes specifically to Christian believers. And I've 
often thought it's the first pastor's conference because Paul 
is addressing the Ephesian elders of the church. Now, it's quite 
lengthy. We're not going to get to all of it this morning, but 
I do want to give you sort of the outline of where we're heading. 
In the first place, we want to give an identification of the 
audience in verse 17. Secondly, the review of Paul's 
ministry in verses 18 to 27. Thirdly, we'll see the specific 
exhortation to the elders in verses 28 to 31. and then the 
final admonition to the elders in verses 32 to 38. Now, our 
focus will be on the identification of the hearers, and then secondly, 
the review of Paul's ministry. And as Paul is reviewing his 
ministry, he is not doing so as a proud man. He is not doing 
so as a boastful man. He is not doing so in a manner 
like this. Oh, look at me and see how I 
have served the Lord. No, this is foundational. He 
will exhort these men, in verse 28, to be faithful, to take heed 
to themselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit 
has made them overseers. And to that end, He provides 
His own apostolic example for them to follow. It is not wicked. It is not proud. It is not boastful. It is a matter of fact that Christ 
saved this man on the road to Damascus, gave him a particular 
commission, gave him apostolic authority, and sent him out all 
over the then-known world to preach Christ and Him crucified. 
His ministry was exemplary. His ministry was one to be followed. His ministry was one to be modeled 
after. And so therefore, the idea that 
Paul is boasting or tooting his own horn is absolutely contrary 
and foreign to this particular context. So let's look first 
at the identification of the audience. Verse 17, it says, 
from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of 
the church. Calvin helpfully explains, it 
appears more plainly by the context, that those are called elders, 
not which were gray-headed, but such as were rulers of the church. He is not dealing with old men, 
he is dealing with those, according to 1 Timothy 3, verses 1-7, and 
Titus 1, verses 5-9, who would function as elders 
in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We notice as well, according 
to verse 28, there's two other terms applied to this one office. The elders are told that they 
have been made overseers by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for 
elders is presbuteros, which is a plural form, and then with 
reference to the overseer, it is episkopos. And so what we 
have is the elders are called overseers, and then they are 
to function as pastors or shepherds, to shepherd the church of God, 
which He has purchased with His own blood. When we look at the 
various passages where these terms are used, here and again, 
1 Timothy and in Titus, we see that these three terms are applied 
to the one office. the one office in the Church 
of Christ which is tasked with teaching and preaching and then 
government or rule within the context of the local church. 
It's not authoritarian, it's not magisterial, it's not the 
case that they're the cult leader, but rather they govern or rule 
through the application of God's Holy Word to the flock of Christ. 
So we are dealing with pastors. That's why I said this is a pastor's 
conference, and Paul wants to exhort them and encourage them 
to function in a way that is consistent with their calling. 
He does the same thing with Timothy in 2 Timothy 4. Verse 2, he tells 
him, preach the word. Be ready in season and out of 
season. And then Paul gives two reasons. The first is that the 
church will not endure sound doctrine. Don't listen to them, 
Timothy. Preach the word nevertheless. 
The second is that Paul is departing. Paul is going to die. And so 
Paul's rationale is simple. Timothy, I'm going to go the 
way of all flesh. I'm going to enter into that 
blessed abode in heaven. And while I'm gone, I want you 
to be faithful in the ministry of the word and not to relent, 
not to forsake this primary calling. So he is dealing with the elders 
slash overseers slash pastors, the one office in the church 
that has as its specific task leadership or rule in government 
and then teaching. Now notice, secondly, the review 
of Paul's ministry, verses 18 to 27. This is where we'll spend 
time. First, we want to look at his 
past ministry in verses 18 to 21. Second, his future prospects 
in verses 22 to 25. And then finally, his clear conscience 
in verses 26 and 27. But notice with reference to 
his past ministry in verses 18 to 21. You're taking notes, I 
have three sub points here. First, his faithfulness, second, 
his service, and thirdly, his doctrine. Note his faithfulness 
in verse 18. And when they had come to him, 
he said to them, you know from the first day that I came to 
Asia in what manner I always lived among you. In the first 
place, Paul's faithfulness was evident to those who knew him. 
In other words, he didn't have to try to convince them of this. This was an assumption. This 
was a presupposition. For those three years that he 
labored among them, They knew what manner of man Paul was. 
They knew he wasn't out on the golf course. They knew he wasn't 
out just feeding his belly at buffets. They knew he wasn't 
engaged in the sorts of things that so oftentimes occupy men 
in ministry today. But rather, Paul's faithfulness 
was proven among these men, and he says, you know what manner 
I've always lived. And then the faithfulness of 
Paul was not spotty but consistent. Look at what he says. You know 
from the first day that I came to Asia in what manner I always 
lived among you. Again, it wasn't spotty. It wasn't 
half-hearted. It wasn't feeble. It wasn't weak-kneed. but rather Paul's was a ministry 
that was faithful. He demonstrates commitment. He 
demonstrates perseverance. He demonstrates those essential 
elements that are vital in men for gospel ministry. We ought 
to think about our brother Ryan who is studying right now. We 
ought to think about a man by the name of Mike Wachowski, who 
I'm vetting with reference to the work there in Vernon. We 
need to pray for our brother Mike Kirkpatrick in this same 
vein, that it's not a flash in the pan, that it's not just a 
six-month sort of a wonder, but rather it is committed to Christ 
day in and day out to do the work that God Most High has called 
them to. In 1 Corinthians 4.2, the Apostle 
Paul says, moreover, it is required in stewards that they be found 
faithful. Now, I know the prevailing wisdom 
today says that they be found successful, that they be found 
sensational, that they be found provocative, that they be found 
whatever the adjective you want to supply. But for the Apostle 
Paul, relative to gospel ministry, it ain't that, but rather it's 
faithfulness to the living and true God. When Paul comes to 
exhort Timothy, he says, study to show yourself approved to 
who? Approved to the people you minister unto? No. Approved unto 
God. You need to be His workman. You 
need to be one who rightly divides the word of truth so that you 
can feed the people of God. Because that, after all, is the 
job. To feed the people of God the 
food that the Lord has purposed for them. Paul's ministry was 
characterized by faithfulness. Note his service according to 
verses 19 and 20. He demonstrates his affection 
to them. Notice in verse 19, serving the 
Lord with all humility. Again, this isn't boastfulness 
on the part of the apostle Paul. Paul knew Bible well enough, 
and he knew the human heart well enough, and he was honest enough 
to say that his service to them wasn't born out of pride. Paul 
wasn't looking for people to wear t-shirts with his face on 
it that says, Paul is my homeboy. Paul didn't care about that sort 
of thing. Paul rather was a man who was 
humble before his God. He understood the God with whom 
he had to do, and it was that God that he answered unto. So 
when he indicates that he was humble, I think we ought to appreciate 
that Paul had met many a proud man. And if that's what proud 
men look like, Paul's able to say, that ain't me, brethren. 
And then notice that affection. He served them with tears. He was affected by the things 
that affected the people of God. It wasn't just a profession. 
It wasn't just sort of a job like a lawyer or a job like a 
teacher or a job like a doctor. It wasn't simply professionalism 
for the apostle Paul, but it was his passion. It was his ethos. It was what made him Paul as 
he reveals to us with many tears. John Gill says, at the obstinacy, 
why would he cry? At the obstinacy and unbelief 
of some, and at the distresses and afflictions of others, both 
corporeal and spiritual, as well as on account of the unbecoming 
walk of some of the professors. You see, Paul was affected by 
this. When he writes in the book of 
Romans, in chapter 12, weep with those who weep and rejoice with 
those who rejoice, he ain't faking it. He doesn't secretly delight 
when the people of God are negatively affected. He doesn't whine about 
that, he doesn't complain about that, but rather he comes alongside 
of them and he sorrows right with them. And so he's able to 
say to this church in Ephesus, I have served the Lord with all 
humility, with many tears as I've reflected upon the various 
things that affect the people of God and the various things 
that affect both internally and externally the church of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. And then notice as well what 
he says with reference to his method. Under service, notice 
his method in verse, well, not only that, let's go back to verse 
19, with many tears and trials, which happened to me by the plotting 
of the Jews. If ever there was an understatement 
in the mouth of a particular individual, it is here. He elaborates 
in 2 Corinthians 11, to which we'll turn at the end of the 
sermon this morning. But for now, just suffice to say, it 
wasn't just service to the Lord with all humility. It wasn't 
service to the church with all tears. It was the experience 
of trials from men that wanted to kill him. men that wanted 
to rid the earth of him, men that rejected his doctrine, rejected 
his person, and as a result, they plotted to destroy him. 
So he understood what it was to function and to labor and 
to minister in a context where there was great hostility. And 
nevertheless, he's faithful. Nevertheless, he's committed. 
Nevertheless, he goes forward in the fear of God. because he 
is a man that is marked by faithfulness. Now notice in verse 20 his method 
in terms of his service. How I kept back nothing that 
was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly 
and from house to house. In the first place, he kept back 
nothing that was helpful. In other words, if the people 
of God need help, the minister of God gives them help. I know 
that sounds odd. I know that sounds weird, but 
he's available for them. He preaches to them those things 
they stand in need of. such that when they will not 
endure sound doctrine, he knows better than they do and says, 
nevertheless, preach sound doctrine to them. They may think they 
want puppets, they may think they want entertainment, they 
may think they want rock bands, but when they are in dire straits, 
or when they know affliction like they've never known it before, 
the thing that will comfort them is not the guy shredding on the 
guitar, but the God of heaven and earth. And so Paul kept back 
nothing that was helpful. The Westminster Shorter Catechism 
asks the question, what do the scriptures principally teach? 
The scriptures principally teach that man is to believe concerning 
God and what duty God requires of man. Paul was convinced of 
that. I know that Paul didn't have 
the Westminster Shorter Catechism, but he was certainly convinced 
of that reality. What do people today need to 
hear? They need to hear what the scriptures principally teach. 
What man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires 
of man. Again, that's it. You don't need 
the therapy. You don't need the self-help. 
You don't need all of that stuff if you understand rightly the 
word of the living God. Now, brethren, you might need 
therapy. I need therapy sometime. I'm not going to say that we're 
somehow nuts if we need that. We all need help. We all need 
a shot in the arm. We all need a listening ear. 
We all need encouragement, but never at the expense of God's 
truth. It is God's truth that Jesus prays in his high priestly 
prayer. Sanctify them by thy truth. Thy word is truth. Brethren, 
when you consider Scripture, you will see that the person's 
in Scripture highly valued and prized Scripture. That is the 
emphasis we find. So not only does he not keep 
back anything that is helpful, but he teaches publicly. We see 
that in Acts 19. He goes into the synagogue of 
the Jews and there he preaches to Jews and God-fearing Greeks. 
When they chase him out of the synagogue, he, probably owing 
to his own money, his own wallet, his own pocketbook, goes and 
rents the lecture hall of Tyrannus. And there, for two years, he 
ministers the Word of Truth. And there, in that public facility, 
it says, then all who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of God. So 
he publicly ministers the truth, but then from house to house, 
he visits people, he encourages people, he's there for people. 
When they need the word of God, he's got the word of God so that 
they can be exhorted and receive the help that is absolutely crucial. So we see his faithfulness, verse 
18, we see his service, verses 19 and 20. Now notice his doctrine 
in verse 21. For the apostle Paul, this is 
an obvious statement, right? You never had to wonder, is he 
telling the truth here? Is really verse 21 what sort 
of defines his ministry? Absolutely verse 21 defines his 
ministry because it's the gospel, 16 ounces to the pound, life, 
death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the necessity 
on the part of the hearers to repent toward God and to believe 
on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no shock in verse 21 
when we identify that as the very hub, as the center, as the 
very essence of the apostles' ministry. It's the gospel. It's 
Jesus Christ and him crucified and resurrected. It's how do 
I get right with God? Paul comes and tells you, believe 
on him. Believe on that one who lived. 
Believe on that one who died. Believe on that one who was raised 
again the third day, who now sits enthroned at the right hand 
of his father, where he ever lives to make intercession for 
people like you and me. Isn't that an amazing thought? 
So Paul tells them that when he says to the Jews and Greeks, 
he simply means to all men everywhere, consistent with the promise made 
to Abraham, in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed, 
consistent with the expression of that psalmist in Psalm 67. Let the nations be glad. The 
apostle Paul didn't simply focus on the Jews. The apostle Paul 
didn't simply go to the Gentiles. Paul went to anybody and everybody 
that had ears. and he would preach to them repentance 
toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That is what is 
absolutely crucial in ministry today. Again, it's not the rah-rah 
sessions, and it's not the cheerleader, and it's not the sort of guy 
that is simply woke, but it's the man who has as his very marrow 
the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the thing necessary, 
brethren. That is what is absolutely assumed. 
When Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers 
are few. Do we want woke laborers? They're 
a curse upon the church today. They're a curse upon the Western 
civilization. We want men who was like John 
Bunyan. Spurgeon said that he was bib-lean. 
When you poked him, he bled out Bible. That's the kind of man 
that we need, and that's the kind of Paul or a man that Paul 
the Apostle was. So his doctrine is very clear. 
The emphasis on faith and repentance is that which is helpful for 
people. Remember he says, I kept back 
nothing that was helpful. What's helpful for people? to 
hear the way of salvation. What's helpful for people? To 
understand how to flee the wrath to come. What's helpful for people? How to know the way of grace 
through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And if you don't know 
that this morning, listen to the apostle, listen to what is 
crucial, listen to that thing that is most helpful in your 
lives. It's an intriguing thing. You ask people, you ask, what 
is it that you think would help you? Well, I think a lot of money 
would help me. Oh, I think another job would help me. Or I think 
a lot of, you know, schooling or education would help me. How 
many people are out there thinking about the help that is absolutely 
crucial to stand before a thrice holy God one day and give an 
account of deeds done in the body, whether good or evil? Who 
thinks that way? Well, they don't. That's why 
we come and tell them. That's why we say there is a 
world to come. There is an eternity by grace 
to gain or an eternity by nature to suffer. We tell them of repentance 
toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So that's his past 
ministry. Let's look at his future prospects 
in verses 22 to 25. It's incredible what this man 
is going through in terms of the gospel of our salvation. 
In the first place, there's these unknown challenges. He doesn't 
know what's going to happen to him in every place. He indicates 
that in verse 22. And see, now I go bound in the 
Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to 
me there. He probably, like everybody, wants to think, sure, I'll go 
there. James will say, hey, it's great to see you, Paul. Thank 
you for bringing the money for the saints in Jerusalem. That's 
not exactly what happens when he gets there. James says, you 
know, I've heard it said that you're teaching Jews that they're 
supposed to deny the law. Oh, well, yeah, that's not true 
at all. And so that's something that 
he has to deal with. Perhaps when he gets to Jerusalem, he 
thinks that everybody will be saying, hey, there's the mighty 
apostle Paul. He doesn't know what's going 
to happen. Most of us like to think the best. I remember a 
young man 23 years ago thought he'd come to Chilliwack and preach 
and we'd see all kinds of people get saved. That worked for about 
a week, and then he realized that's probably not going to 
happen. So you just need to dig in, be faithful, and preach repentance 
toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for the long haul. 
So for the apostle, Paul, he doesn't know what lay ahead. 
He doesn't know what there is before him. He is, as it were, 
embarking on a trip from Miletus to Jerusalem, about 610 miles, 
and all the way, probably his mind is rolling about him. He 
understands the reality that people don't like him. I know 
it's strange, but people didn't like Paul. People don't like 
men at times that preach the truth as it is in Jesus. Everybody 
should have loved Paul. Everybody should have celebrated 
Paul. There should have been a great sort of reception for 
him when he came to the city of Jerusalem. But that's not 
what was going to happen. He had met way too many unbelieving 
Jews that wanted to kill him. He had met way too many unbelieving 
Gentiles who wanted to just disregard him. So he doesn't know there's 
that unknown element. Verse 22. But verse 23, there 
is something that is confirmed for him. And the Spirit himself 
has confirmed this, that there will be chains and tribulations 
awaiting for him. And you notice that Paul isn't 
Jonah. Paul doesn't set sail from Miletus back up the Aegean, 
back up to the region of Macedonia, back up to the region of Southern 
Galatia. He knows what lay in wait for 
him to this degree. Look at what he says in verse 
23, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city saying 
that change and tribulations await me. Look in the next chapter 
at 21, 21 verse four. Well, verse 3, when we had sighted 
Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at 
Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. And finding 
disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through 
the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. Again, you don't know what's 
facing you, but this much you do know, you've got a band of 
disciples you've just spent seven days with, who now speak to you 
under the guidance of the Spirit, and they say, don't go to Jerusalem. What's Paul supposed to do? Not 
go to Jerusalem? And then look at 2111, that prophet 
Agabus, he makes the same sort of a statement. Verse 11, when 
he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, this is Agabus, bound his 
own hands and feet and said, thus says the Holy Spirit, so 
shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and 
deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Now Agabus wasn't 
a hack. Agabus wasn't a piker. Agabus 
wasn't a self-appointed prophet. Agabus was a prophet of God. In chapter 11, he prophesied 
concerning a famine that would affect the churches in Judea. 
Paul and Barnabas took that prophecy so seriously that in that time, 
they took up money, they took up a collection, and they themselves 
go to try to alleviate some of the situation that affected the 
churches in Judea. So Agabus isn't just blowing 
smoke. When Agabus does this, it's an 
acted parable. When he takes the belt and he 
shows him what the Holy Spirit testifies, Paul does not know 
the specifics, but Paul knows the generalities. And the generalities 
are enough to promote a Jonah to go to Joppa instead of Nineveh. But not Paul, he continues undaunted 
to go to the city of Jerusalem because that's the man that he 
is. To the Romans, remember he wrote 
this Book of Romans in that third missionary journey, probably 
within this sort of time frame. He says, now I beg you, brethren, 
through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, 
that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 
that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, 
and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. So we have this realization on 
the part of the apostle that there is going to be trouble. 
So what does he do? Does he panic? No. Does he turn 
around and head north? No. He tells or asks or begs 
the church to pray for him. If at the end of his life you 
were to get him alone and say, how is it that you persevered 
the way that you did? He'd say, God is faithful and 
his people are faithful. That's what Paul learned in his 
ministry. That when it comes, or when push 
comes to shove, the people of God pray for the ministry and 
the ministers that are facing these sorts of challenges. And 
then notice this commitment again, the faithfulness of the apostle 
in verse 24. He has this resolution, but none 
of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself. They don't move him. Certainly, 
they would have affected him. Certainly, they would have caused 
him a bit of concern. Certainly any man with flesh 
and blood and a beating heart would understand that when the 
Holy Spirit says, you're going to go to Jerusalem and there 
will be chains and tribulations there, I don't think you would 
be a real man if you weren't affected to some degree by that. 
But when he says, none of these things move me from my course. None of these things shake me 
from my duty. None of these things stop me 
from engaging in that which God Most High has called me unto. And then when he says, nor do 
I count my life dear to myself. Again, fundamental in the second 
great commandment is that we love ourselves, not worship ourselves, 
not adore ourselves, not bow to ourselves, but not ingest 
arsenic, not poke our eyes with scissors, not do foolish things 
like that. Why? Because we love ourselves. 
We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. It's not the case 
that Paul hates himself. It's not the case that Paul loves 
himself. But it is rather the case that 
Jesus is his vision, that Jesus is his everything, that Jesus 
is his pinnacle, that Jesus is his chief joy. And as a result 
of that, his life will always be second fiddle to that of the 
King of kings and the Lord of lords. That's what he means then. 
So he's got this resolve, he's got this resolution, he's got 
this reality, but then notice the reason. Verse 24, "...so 
that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I 
received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the 
grace of God." Paul uses the word race, or the metaphor of 
race, for the Christian life generally. He does that in 1 
Corinthians 9, Galatians 2, Philippians 2. But with reference to gospel 
ministry, and his in particular, he does so in 2 Timothy 4, 7. 
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have 
kept the faith. Now notice something that modifies 
the Apostle's statement that certainly demands supernatural 
aid and grace and help from the Spirit of the living God. Look 
at what he says in the middle, "...so that I may finish my race 
with joy." You see, it's not enough that a gospel minister 
simply make it. He must also make it with joy. And that's why I suspect Paul 
was often at the throne of grace. Because as I said, when you look 
at 2 Corinthians 11, and you see the things that he suffered 
for the cause of Jesus Christ, it would be very hard to know 
that he would be joyful in the midst of that. Now I doubt that 
means that every time a stone hit him in the back, he had a 
big smile on his face. I doubt every time the whip opened 
up his back, he laughed hysterically. But there is a joy that the people 
of God possess, that even when they go through great trial and 
affliction, They know it. It is there. It is something 
the enemies of Jesus can never take away. There is that marked 
joy as those blood-bought children of God whose names are written 
in the Lamb's Book of Life. That instance in Luke 10, the 
disciples come back. They rejoice that they had cast 
out demons. They rejoice that they had preached. 
They rejoice that they had healed. And Jesus says, don't rejoice 
in this, but rather rejoice that your names are written in the 
Lamb's Book of Life. See, for Paul, All of the Jews, 
the animosity of the unbelieving Jews couldn't strip him of that. 
For Paul, all of the Gentiles that didn't care one whit about 
what he was preaching could ever take that from him. What do you 
do with the man who says, for to me to live is Christ and to 
die is gain? Do you kill him? You give him 
more of Jesus. Do you let him live? You allow 
him to continue to preach Jesus. You can't mess with a man like 
Paul, because for him, to live is Christ and to die is gay. You can't hurt him. You have 
no kryptonite against him. You can't sidetrack him. You 
can't sideline him. He sees everything with that 
Christocentric lens. Whatever occurs in my life, this 
one thing I know, my name is written in the Lamb's Book of 
Life. He needs to finish his race with joy and the ministry, 
which I received from the Lord Jesus, that Acts 9 experience 
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. His doctrine, verse 
21, his mission, verse 24. What is it? It's the gospel, 
life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. For him, 
that was everything. For him, that was his mission. And for him, he would persevere 
until the very end so that he could render that service to 
his God. Now, notice this reality is still 
under this heading of his future prospects. Verse 25, And indeed, 
now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the 
kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Some have termed this 
as a farewell sermon. Not his last sermon ever, but 
his last sermon to these Ephesian elders. Now, it doesn't matter 
if after his imprisonment, he goes back to this particular 
region. At this point in his life and 
ministry, at this point in his Christian experience, at this 
point when he knows that the Spirit testifies, that change 
and tribulations await him, as far as he is concerned, this 
is the last time they will ever see his face. And I think that 
adds to the urgency of this message. It underscores and highlights 
the importance of this message, such that when we get to verse 
28, and his, therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all 
the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, 
there is an earnestness appended to that. In other words, I'm 
going to be gone. You're not going to see me anymore. 
Do not be derelict in your duty. The Church of Jesus Christ has 
seen and observed that you men are qualified according to 1 
Timothy 3 and Titus chapter 1. Even though those books weren't 
written by then, they were still in the heart of the Apostle. 
The three years that he spent in the city of Ephesus, what 
does he do? He preaches publicly and from house to house. He testifies 
repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And 
he identifies or helps the church identify elders so that they 
can function as pastors in the church of Jesus Christ. There 
is a class of foolish minister out there that only sees that 
initial act of coming to Jesus as that which is important. In 
fact, one of these morons said many years ago, If you get saved 
here, then don't come back here for your doctrine, because we're 
only in the business of getting people saved. That's not what 
he's in the business of today. He is a health wealth prosperity 
guy. He is somebody that is a charlatan. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. 
But that's the kind of moronic thing that you hear. It's not 
simply coming to Christ, but it's being fed. It's growing 
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. It is the pillar 
and ground of the truth that we've subscribed to. It is the 
church of the living God. And what we are about is the 
trafficking in truth. It is the case that we preach. 
It is the case that we teach. It is the case that we do this 
and we don't shrink back. Why? Because as said earlier, 
those afflicted saints, those tried saints are never going 
to be helped by their minister with the 18-inch guns and the 
$500 shirts. They want God. They want Christ. They want the altogether lovely 
one who understood what it was to suffer in our humanity. And 
that is the task of faithful ministry, to teach people that 
so that they will be encouraged and that they will be strengthened 
and fortified and that they will go forward. So this is the reality. You're not going to see me anymore. 
And that brings us finally to this statement concerning his 
clear conscience in verses 26 and 27. We have the declaration 
in verse 26, and then we have the rationale or reason in verse 
27. Look at what he says in verse 
26. I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood 
of all men. I read one time where C.H. Spurgeon's 
mother said that to her children. I have preached to you, I have 
prayed with you, and if on that day you don't own Jesus, I'll 
stand on his side while he casts you away. That's what Paul is 
saying. I am innocent of the blood of 
all men. Why? Because he didn't keep back 
anything that was helpful, but he solemnly declared, he testified 
repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If 
he had been simply a cheerleader, if he had been simply a self-help 
guru, then certainly he ought to fear and tremble, but he's 
able to say, I testify to you, I'm innocent of the blood of 
all men. Look at Acts chapter 18 and verse 6, where he says 
something similar in the city of Corinth. Acts 18.5, when Silas 
and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit 
and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when 
they opposed him in blaspheme, he shook his garments and said 
to them, Your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean. From now 
on, I will go to the Gentiles." Turn back to the prophet Ezekiel. 
Ezekiel chapter 3. Ezekiel chapter 3. I believe this is in the backdrop 
of Paul's mind, or in the forefront of Paul's mind, as he makes this 
statement concerning his clear conscience. Excuse me, Acts chapter 3, I'm 
sorry, Ezekiel chapter 3 at verse 16. Now it came to pass at the 
end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me saying, 
son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore, 
hear a word from my mouth and give them warning from me. When 
I say to the wicked, you shall surely die and you give him no 
warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to 
save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, 
but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you warn 
the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from 
his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have 
delivered your soul. And then the same prophecy is 
made in Ezekiel chapter 33. Ezekiel chapter 33, verses 1 
to 11. The same thing is repeated. So the apostle here with these 
Ephesian elders is able to say the same thing. Therefore, I 
testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of 
all men. He didn't cease to warn them. He didn't cease to exhort 
them. He didn't cease to tell them the way of salvation. If 
they perish, if they reject and resist, their blood will not 
be required at the hand of the apostle Paul. And he makes that 
perfectly clear in verse 27 by reasoning thus. He says, for 
I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. I have not shunned to declare 
to you the whole counsel of God. In other words, everything that 
was helpful, everything that was part and parcel of the gospel 
of the kingdom of God, everything that was necessary for man's 
life, health, salvation, and position in our Lord Jesus, he 
didn't shun from declaring that. And this begs the question, brethren, 
what of men that do shun this? What of men that are rah-rah 
leaders, or cheerleaders in the church today, or gurus, or celebrities, 
or any such thing like that? Or worse, what about the traitors, 
the traitors and pulpits that are promoting the organization 
known as Black Lives Matter? Can they say, I have not shunned 
to declare to you the whole counsel of God? That's what sinners need, 
brethren. They need the gospel of Jesus 
Christ our Lord. They don't need wokeness. They 
need blood, blood atonement from the Savior to wash them from 
their filth. The apostle had a clear conscience 
before God and before men. Why? Because he did what God 
called him to do. There is always safety, there 
is always blessing, there is always protection in doing what 
God has called you to do. Don't renege, don't neglect, 
don't forsake, but rather embrace that calling and run with it 
by the grace of God and do all that you do for His glory and 
for His honor. In conclusion, a few thoughts 
and then we go. First, the ministry of the Apostle 
Paul. This is one of those sermons 
where you feel like a second grade kid that's bouncing a basketball 
in the school yard, and you're talking about Michael Jordan. 
There's just not a connection. There's just not sort of a consistency. The model of ministry presented 
by this man, just consider these things. First, the faithfulness 
that is evident in his ministry. Faithfulness that is evident 
in his ministry. I think one of the saddest points 
in the literature presented by the apostle is 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians, Paul develops 
or has an apologetic tone in that letter. In other words, 
he's defending himself, not apologizing the way that we use it. Apology 
today is, I'm sorry. It's some feeble expression of 
what we've done. Apologetics in scripture, apology 
in the Greek is to defend. And in 2 Corinthians, Paul has 
to defend himself. Again, not because he's proud, 
not because he's vain, not because he's everybody's homeboy, but 
because he knows that if these men who had come to the church 
at Corinth can dissuade people from Paul, then they will dissuade 
people from Paul's message. Paul and his message are intricately 
connected, and he understands this. This is why he defends 
himself in 2 Corinthians. But you stand back for a moment 
and you say, what kind of a man out there goes to the church 
in Corinth and tells the people there, oh, Paul really doesn't 
care about you? Paul's only in this for the money. 
Paul doesn't really actually have, in his mind, your best. That's a wretched man. It's a 
horrible person that would slander somebody with sterling character. 
But those in Corinth who knew better would say, I'm not going 
to be led astray by this garbage. I'm not going to be led astray 
by you trying to produce in me doubts for this man whose faithfulness 
in ministry is obvious. It is evident. Secondly, the 
methodology that was obvious in his ministry. He was humble. 
He wasn't proud. He was compassionate, not insensitive. He was driven, not lazy. And that is absolutely crucial 
as well. Laziness is a great curse upon 
Christian ministry. Ministers ought to be diligent 
and earnest and full of zeal and vigor. Why? Because they 
are serving the great king. They are on a massive errand 
and they must perform satisfactorily to the king who sent them. Thirdly, 
the hardships that were part of his ministry. Now you can 
turn to 2 Corinthians 11. And again, this is why he outlines 
these things, is because certain persons had come to the church 
and had tried to say that Paul was a wretch. Paul doesn't care. He doesn't really have your best 
interests in his mind. Notice in verse... 22. Are they 
Hebrews? This is comparative. He's comparing 
himself to these angels of light. Go back for just a moment, just 
so you can get a hint of what's happening here in Koran. Verse 
12. But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut 
off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to 
be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming 
themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself 
transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no 
great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into 
ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their 
works. See what he says there? They're aping their master. They're 
following the devil. They're engaged in this diabolical 
activity because they're not saved. Not everybody who says 
they're saved, I know this may shock you, is actually saved. 
Not every minister who says he's saved is necessarily saved. You're 
not saved because you're a minister, you're saved because of the grace 
of God in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. And if men haven't 
tasted and seen that the Lord is good, they have no business 
serving, or proclaiming to serve the master, when in reality they're 
serving their dark lord and master. So that's the basis, or that's 
one of the issues going on in Koran. Notice in verse 22, are 
they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? 
So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? 
So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool, I 
am more. In labors more abundant, in stripes 
above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 
From the Jews five times I received 40 stripes minus one. Three times 
I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times 
I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I have been 
in the deep, in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils 
of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the 
Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, 
in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. in weariness 
and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings 
often, in cold and nakedness. Besides the other things, what 
comes upon me daily, my deep concern for all the churches, 
like you Corinthians, who some of which are siding with these 
apostles of darkness, rather than me, the man who loves you. 
This burdened him. And yet he does all these things 
with joy. He had divine aid, brethren. He had divine assistance. He knew the presence and the 
power of the Holy Spirit. So we see hardships, but as well, 
the blessings that were associated with his ministry. You can turn 
to 2 Timothy 4. I'm sure the blessing associated 
with his ministry was known and experienced when he goes to Jerusalem 
and there he meets Pastor James. And he not only has a sack of 
money for the suffering saints in Jerusalem, but he has all 
these companions, the fruit of gospel ministry, the reality 
that God is in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. I'm sure 
that was a great boon, a great encouragement to this brother 
when he's able to present these fruits of God's blessing upon 
his ministry to Pastor James at the church in Jerusalem. Certainly, 
when he would hear people convert it, when he would hear people 
say, oh, I heard your preaching in the synagogue, and justification 
by faith alone made perfect sense to me, by God's grace. It probably 
just encouraged his heart when sinners, Jewish sinners in synagogues 
said, I follow you, I understand now. It is the case that our 
scriptures, our Old Testament said, Messiah must suffer, and 
he must be raised again. And that this Jesus whom you 
preach is Messiah. I'm sure Paul received great 
encouragement every step of the way, when he saw the blessing 
of Christ upon his ministry, when he saw faithful ministers, 
when he saw men that were serving the church and were not reneging, 
men that were like Timothy, men that were like Titus, men that 
were like Aristarchus, men that were like Gaius, men that were 
like the ones named here in Acts chapter 20. Certainly that brought 
him great joy and great contentedness and great happiness. But when 
he comes to die, look at where his happiness lay. Verse 7, 2 
Timothy 4, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the 
race. I have kept the faith. Finally, 
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 
the righteous judge, will give to me on that day. And not to 
me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Paul, 
why do you do what you do? Oh, because I love to see sinners 
saved. Yes. But Paul, why do you do what 
you do? Because Christ is going to receive me to himself one 
day. And not only me, but everybody else who's been faithful. Because 
Christ is an excellent Savior. Christ is altogether lovely. 
Christ is chief among 10,000. Christ is worthy to be proclaimed. 
Christ is worthy to be believed on. Christ is all in all. For Paul, that was everything. You poke him, he bleeds Jesus. Not literally, but if a bunion 
bled Bible, Paul bleeds gospel. And that is the reality in the 
life and ministry of this man. And then the final observation 
coming from our text is his clear conscience that resulted from 
his faithful ministry. His clear conscience that resulted 
from his faithful ministry. And here, I just wanna make one 
final observation. Again, second grader talking 
about Michael Jordan. But brethren, I have tried to 
warn you of the wrath to come. That's a reality. God is holy. 
Holy, holy, holy. His eye is too pure to behold 
any evil. That's what the prophet Habakkuk says. And the way of 
salvation isn't through your merit. It isn't through your 
reform. It isn't through your legalism. It isn't through your getting 
a bit better. The way of salvation is to look 
unto Jesus, to believe on that one who lived, who died, and 
who was raised again. And the grim reality is, not 
for me so much, but for you, If you resist and you reject, 
I was C.H. Spurgeon's mother, and I, with 
the Apostle Paul, will stand on the side of Jesus on that 
day. Because I have tried to warn 
everyone here. I have tried to make it my aim 
to preach repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 
And if you resist, according to God Almighty, to the prophet 
Ezekiel, and according to God Almighty, with reference to the 
Apostle Paul, that's on you. My hands are clean. But brethren, 
I don't want it to be that way. I don't want to have to stand 
with Mrs. Spurgeon. I don't want to have to stand with the Apostle 
Paul in condemnation of beloved people that I want to see saved. Listen to the simplicity of the 
gospel. That's what really bugs me about 
hyper-Calvinism. It's what really bugs me about 
legalism. What really bugs me about antinomianism 
is that we're making the gospel far more difficult. It really 
isn't. You're a wretch. You deserve 
damnation. You deserve hell. Me too, all 
of us deserve God's wrath and curse, both in this life and 
that which is to come. What's the way of salvation? 
How do I get out of this wrath? Look unto the Lord Jesus Christ 
and you shall be saved. Not fix yourself, because you 
can't. Not try harder, because you won't. Not be better, because Joel Osteen's 
another fool. But rather, look on to Jesus. Believe on him, and you shall 
be saved, according to the scriptures of both the Old and the New Testaments. So let it be the case, brethren, 
that as the warning has gone out, hopefully you receive it, 
and hopefully, by God's grace, you look unto Christ today, believe 
and be saved. Well, let us pray. Our Father 
in heaven, we thank you for your Word. We thank you for this wonderful 
example of the Apostles' ministry. And God, we see how it functions 
so beautifully in this pastor's conference, because he's going 
to come to exhort these men to be faithful, to take heed to 
themselves and to all the flock, and to do so in a manner consistent 
with the written Word of the living and true God, and consistent 
with that apostolic pattern set forth by the Apostle. Father, 
I pray for everyone here that we would receive these things, 
that we would hear these things, that we would have eyes to see 
the glory of Jesus Christ, that those who have yet believed on 
Him would, by Your grace, look unto Him today and be saved, 
and know that You are God and there is no other. Again, we 
thank you for the gospel of our salvation. I pray this church 
would always be marked by the proclamation of it. I pray for 
Pastor Mike and Suri that you would bless him, help him to 
tirelessly and earnestly continue to proclaim these truths, and 
we do pray for the work in Vernon. And if it is your will, as the 
Lord of the harvest, that this young man, Mike, goes there, 
we pray that you would facilitate this, we pray that you would 
remove any obstacles, and that you would bless him richly. And 
God bless our dear brother Ryan and help him in his studies, 
help him to approach these things with earnestness and with zeal. And for each of these men, and 
myself included, may it be marked by joy and thanksgiving at the 
reality that God Most High does save sinners, that He strengthens 
His people, and that all of us one day will be in the presence 
of our great and our glorious God. And we ask these things 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We'll turn with me in your 
hymn books to number 568, and we'll sing the doxology in praise 
to our great God. Praise Him, all creatures here 
below. Praise Him, above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Lord bless you and keep you. 
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 
Let us pray. Father, thank you again for your 
word. Thank you for the peace that you give us in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Thank you for your provision and your protection 
over us. And thank you most of all that we have communion with 
the living and true God. that we have Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit, that we have been blessed with every spiritual 
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. May these things greatly 
encourage us, may they stabilize us, may they cause us to walk 
in joy and appreciation for your marvelous grace displayed to 
us. Thank you that Jonathan and Elise 
can be here this morning. We thank you for their new baby. 
We ask that you would look with favor upon this little one. And 
one day, God, may she confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 
We pray that for all of our children. We pray for those babies in the 
womb. And we pray, God in heaven, that 
they would turn out in a manner that is consistent with the written 
word of the living and true God. Help us to take seriously our 
responsibility as parents and grandparents to pray, to preach, 
to exhort, and to bring up these children in the training and 
admonition of the Lord. And we ask this through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. Well, please be seated 
for a brief time of meditation.