The Example Of Paul's Life

Paul was traveling by ship to Jerusalem with a big collection of money from the 'Gentile' churches for the Jewish believers. He was in a hurry, and didn't have time to stop in Ephesus, where he had spent 3 years establishing the Ephesian church. But he just couldn't pass them by without at least giving a final message to the elders of their church. The ship stopped at Miletus, a nearby town, and Paul sent word for the Ephesian church elders to join him there. Several days later they arrived.

As the men gathered together and listened to Paul, he opened his mouth and began to give them a 'farewell' speech. It's the only speech in Acts directed to believers, and it is filled with emotion and zeal. The Asian church leaders are gripped by Paul's words.

Paul boldly, yet humbly, sets forth his own life as an example to these men! "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia..."(Acts 20:18). Paul appeals to their memory. "You know how I lived. Remember? I gave you an example to follow, men."

Could we say that? "Church leaders, remember my life and live like I did."

Paul had lived a transparent life of integrity among the people of Ephesus. He had nothing to hide.

Now he highlights a few aspects of how he had lived among them:

1. "Serving the Lord..." (v19a). Paul had lived with a constant view that it was the Lord Jesus that he was serving, not merely men. He was not out to win a popularity contest, but to be faithful to his Lord.

2. "With all humility..." (v19b). Can you talk about your humility and still be humble? Paul did. He was not bragging here, but calling men to imitate him as he had imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1). Paul had not built a kingdom for himself in Ephesus, apointing himself as the king. He humbled himself and served. What a lesson for these church elders! And for us.

3. "And with tears..." (v19c). Welcome to the ministry. The greatest 'job' in the world, and perhaps the toughest. Leaders of Christ's church serve as men who will answer to God for the souls in their charge (Heb 13:17). The weight of this is felt deeply (2 Cor 11:28). There are tears of stress and tears of hurt; there are tears of compassion for the sheep and tears when they turn on you. These tears must be laid at the feet of Christ, the Chief Shepherd of the sheep.

4. "And with trials..." (v19d). Paul withstood persecution ("plots of the Jews") as he labored to build the Ephesian church. He did not give up, wash out, walk away or surrender. He persevered. He served with endurance. He remained faithful. So must these Ephesian church elders. So must we.

It's not that Paul was a happy-go-lucky guy who always had a smile. Paul faced some severe depression! He wrote to the Corinthian church,

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, ESV

Paul suffered as he served, both internally and externally ("fighting without and fear within" 2 Cor 7:5). But his hope was set on God "who raises the dead!" Paul knew (KNEW!!) that Christ was raised from the dead, for he had appeared to him on the Damascus road. Because Christ lives, we live through him, by faith.

We all know that Christ is our example. We look to him, who faithfully served God through the tears and trials of the cross (Hebrews 12:3). But God has also given us Paul as an example, not of total perfection, but of faithfulness, by grace through faith. These elders had fresh memories of Paul's faithful life, and were able to leave this 'farewell address' encouraged and emboldened to go and serve the Ephesian church with faithfulness, just as Paul had done.

Paul's example is not only for those men who served in Ephesus all those years ago. God has recorded this for us in Scripture to call us to faithfulness in our ministries, and to be encouraged. The same God who graced Paul with a faithful life can grace us too!

Let us recognize our need for faithfulness in our life. We cannot preach the gospel and live a life that destroys our words.

Lord, make us faithful!

To Be Faithful...

‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:21, ESV). Jesus used these words in his parable of the talents, spoken by the master settling accounts with his servants. The master spoke these same words to two of the three servants, though their fruitfulness was different. One servant doubled his five talents, the other doubled only two; both were called faithful by their master.

Christians will differ in our giftedness. Our talents, spiritual gifts, and 'success' in bearing fruit will be very different. But all of us can be - must be - faithful. We cannot measure success in numbers or appearances, but in faithfulness.

Faithfulness is required of us by God. Paul, in discussing Christian laborers, or 'stewards,' says this:  "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy" (1 Cor 4:2, ESV). This word 'trustworthy' is the Greek pistos, which means "faithful, trustworthy, reliable, dependable" (Verbrugge). This is what God requires of his servants.

God himself is faithful! He is called "faithful" several times in Scripture (1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 1:18; Heb 10:23; 2 Tim 2:13; 1 Thes 5:24; 1 Jn 1:9 to name a few). Christ is also called faithful (Heb 2:17; Rev 1:5, 3:14, 19:11). God is faithful to us. This is his character, his nature. And we are being conformed to God's nature in Christ (Rom 8:29). Through faith in Jesus we must reflect God's faithfulness, his reliability.

Though the believer must be faithful in all areas of life, here are a few specifics:

1. Faithful in devotion to Christ (2 Cor 11:2-3). Our hearts cannot be permitted to drift from pure and simple devotion to Jesus. No idols! No empty religion! No lukewarm affection!

2. Faithful in the truth (2 John 9-11). In this day where many are questioning, reinventing and abandoning Biblical, historic Christianity, we must stand firm in the doctrines of Scripture, not swerving, fudging, or blurring the lines, but speaking the truth in love.

3. Faithful in marriage (Heb 13:4). Marriage, a picture of Christ and the church, must be honored. Our eyes, hearts, words and actions must be guarded to protect and ensure faithfulness to our husband or wife.

4. Faithful in our word (James 5:12). We must glorify God by letting our 'yes be yes' and our no, no. What an honorable thing to be known as a man or woman who keeps our word!

5. Faithful on the job (Titus 2:9-10). God is glorified in the workplace by Christians who can be counted on by their boss and coworkers.

6. Faithful in the church (Heb 10:24-25). Faithful in attendance, in participation, using our gifts, discipling and encouraging one another, submitting to leadership and fellowshipping with the body.

7. Faithful in the gospel mission (Matt 28:19-20). Always praying for and looking for opportunities to share the gospel message and back it up in our deeds.

My prayer and hope is that, by the grace of God, we may be found faithful! Oh, to hear Jesus say to me on that Day: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Are you faithful?

The Example of Barnabus

Barnabus was an early-church hero. He was greatly used by God in the days of the church recorded in Acts. In fact, he was the partner of Paul the Apostle!  The 2 of them served as the first missionary team ever sent out by the church!

We learn a lot from the first time Barnabus is introduced to us in Scripture. This man who would go on to be greatly used by God is first seen as a faithful local church member!  Just doing the daily church-community thing: in submission to his local church leadership, encouraging people, and giving to the needy through his local church!

"Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabus (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet."  Acts 4:36-37

This missionary hero is here introduced as an ordinary, faithful church member.  Praise God!  Many believers want to be used greatly by God (and that is a good desire).  But too often the path to greatness in his kingdom is perceived to be running off and leaving the church; impatiently starting ministry before we are ready; unwisely disdaining God's path to ministry (you guessed it - the local church). 

Yet here is Barnabus.  Humble enough to serve under the apostle's leadership (laying his money at their feet as a symbol of submission and obedience). Generous enough to sell his possessions to meet the needs of fellow church members. Joyful enough to go around encouraging people until they can't help but nickname him 'son of encouragement!'  And patient enough to remain in faithful service to his church until the Holy Spirit said (in a church meeting!) "Send out Saul and Barnabus" (Acts 13). 

While he was serving in the Jerusalem church, he was a faithful member, doing his part.  And when the apostles needed a faithful man to send to the growing church in Antioch, they sent Barnabus (Acts 11:22). He relocated to Antioch, dove right in and served the church there.  And God used this man in the spreading of the gospel to the nations.  His ministry continued to grow as he remained faithful where he was.

Let's learn from the example of the son of encouragement! 
Are you in it for the long haul in your local church community?
Lord help us endure in faithfulness right where you've planted us!