Acts 20 Paul’s Example by Ben Fronczek

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Acts 20 Paul’s Example

Paul’s Example  –   Acts 20:17-38

Have you ever thought about if you had one last thing to say or share with this church what would it be?

In our story from Acts 20, Paul is on his way back home from his third missionary journey. And the sad reality was, he knew that he would never see those people again this side of heaven. I just imagine just how he felt knowing that they would probably never see him again.

Some of us have had to deal with those feeling at one time or another in our life. Read this story in  Acts 20:17-38

I think Paul shared some important things with these people in this text before he said goodbye.   Yes he was sad about having to have to say goodbye, but I also think he left them with something to chew on and think about even after he left.

Here Paul talked about his own ministry while with them.
I can’t help but think that since he knew that this was the last time that he would ever speak to them he probably chose his words very carefully.  Actually, I think he left them with a great example to follow.

The question I have for you is, do you have what it takes to follow his example?

Today I would like to briefly look at what he told them, his example, and maybe look at what he said that we can apply to ourselves as we try to walk this Christian walk.

Re-read 20:17-19     ” ¹⁷ From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹ I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. ²⁰ You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.”                                                                             

#1) The first thing he mentions concerning how he lived among them is how
he served the Lord with great humility. The Greek word used here denotes the idea of having a humble opinion of one’s self, a deep sense of one’s own moral littleness, a sense of modesty and lowliness of mind.

Paul did not come into Ephesus like some kind of big shot preacher. He was gentle and meek, without a high and mighty or puffed up attitude.

Later when Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Chapter 4:2-3 he wrote, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love, make every effort to keep the bond of unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,”

Question, are you bearing with one another in love? Are you putting with those brothers and sister in Christ that got you upset or angry?  Are you making every effort to keep the peace which is a bond ordained by the Spirit of God? Are you perusing peace? Or are you letting Satan get a foot-hold in your heart by holding on to that anger and frustration with others?  If you are, you just have to let it go. Turn it all over to Jesus.

You might be thinking, “Easier said than done.”

Did you ever think, ‘Maybe you just don’t want to let it go.’ You might be thinking, ‘But I was right and they were wrong. Who were they do or say that to ME?’

I’m not saying that it was right for them to hurt you, but you need to let those feeling go before Satan uses those feeling to destroy you. And believe me, ‘That’s just what he wants to do.’  He is playing with you and your feeling.  And just smiling all the way as you play into his hands.

Paul had a lot to be angry and frustrated about, especially how he was treated, but he seem to just let it go and give it over to Jesus. You need to do that as well or you’re never going to find peace.

Paul learned how to become a humble and gentle man, and so should we. Ultimately, this will show and demonstrates our trust in Jesus.

#2) The second thing he mentions is the fact that he not only served the Lord with
humility, but also with tears.  As I read this I couldn’t not help but think about the passion this man had as he served the Lord.  We know that Paul was a very passionate when it came to serving our Lord and the church.

Verse 31 says, “be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”

When he saw people fall in love with Jesus, change their lives, and give themselves to the Lord I’m sure it touched his heart. And I’m sure when he saw people ignoring, and ‘poo pooing’ the message of the cross and how people turned away, it probably really bothered him.  It especially got him upset when Christians began to turn away from Jesus, the church, and the truth of the Gospel to a lie. (Like in Galatians)

Paul took message of the Cross and his service to Christ to heart. He was passionate about it. What about you?

Is Sunday morning the only time you think about Jesus, the church and how lost so many people without Jesus?  The less compassionate you are, the less your mind will be focus on these things, and the harder you’re going to become. You are not going to want to treat one another with love or even make an effort to keep the bond of peace intact. You’re going to be less patient with people and start thinking they’re all jerks.

Paul was no wimp. He endured beatings like none of us can imagine and probably did not shed a tear.. Yet when it came to this stuff, his heart melted and tears flowed.

#3. The next things that Paul goes on to mention in the text is in verse 20. He said, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Because of his love, because of his passion, Paul couldn’t help but speak about Jesus when and wherever he could. Yes he was an Apostle, yes he was commissioned by Jesus to bring the Good New to the Gentiles, but no one could forced him to have such a loving and passionate spirit like he had, with a willingness to always go the 2^nd mile for Jesus.

It probably really bothered him when he didn’t speak up knowing full well that those people would die without Jesus and probably go to eternal damnation. Sometimes I think we push that truth aside…

#4. Paul also goes on to remind them of one more thing in verses 33-35 concerning how he acted when he worked with them.  “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. ³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak.”

When it came to serving the Lord and the brethren, I don’t think there was a greedy selfish bone in Paul’s body.  It says a lot about his motives.

I have known some who because they couldn’t find work decided to go to preacher school because they knew that someone or some church would support them while they were in school and then after they graduated had nothing to do with the church. I know some preachers who go through churches like stepping stones  to make more money as they go on to bigger and bigger churches.  I’ve heard of members who sell insurance, or have other businesses who switch churches for business reasons so that they can network with  new people with each change.

That’s not why Paul went from place to place preaching. Paul did it because He loved our Lord and wanted to get the Good News out and so he would have done anything to serve him, including die.

Read verses 22-24 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. “  

So we read here that even though the Holy Spirit let him know of the hardship that was ahead,  it didn’t matter, he had to finish the course set out before him.

In another place Paul later wrote while in prison, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

So how could he do what he did? How could he live like that?                                            –  We read here that he was sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact he said that he was compelled by the Spirit in vs. 22.

–  Some of you have asked me, “How do I know if I doing what God wants me to do?” Or how do I know if God want me to do something?”

–  I think if God wants you to do something His Spirit will let you know. You will be compelled. The Spirit’s has a way of prompting us. Maybe it will be this uncanny urge, gut feeling like you should do something. I think if God wants you do something you’ll know it. An this will not conflict with what He tells us to do in His word.

–   We also read here that Paul adopted a humble, compassionate, non-greedy attitude as he went about serving. These are all personal choices we make. We choose to be humble. We choose not to be greedy. We choose  to serve in the name of Jesus. And we also allow ourselves to be sensitive and compassionate.

The questions is can you do that?  I know that you can. Some of you are doing these things already. Are any of us perfect? No. But we need to keep being reminded that this way of life is something we should strive for. It will give us the most peace, and will help us to be a better servant.

In Verse 36-37 we read that  “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.  (After that)  They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. ³⁸ What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. “

I can’t help but believe that if you follow Paul’s example of humility, love, compassions that will touch the heart of people like Paul did.

I Pray that his example will inspire you and move you to examine yourself, and your motives and enable you to say, “I want to be like that.”

Prayer  & Invitation