Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Unmoved, A Steadfast Man of God (Part 1) - Acts 20:22-24
Acts 20:17-24 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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.”
In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey. While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem. Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey. The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant). Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus.
Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address. Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts. First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry. Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God. In this message let us consider the second of these matters – Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. In the three verses of Acts 20:22-24, the phrase with which verse 24 begins stands out with great strength and emphasis – “But none of these things move me.” The apostle Paul was like an unmovable rock. Regardless of how the storms might blow, he remained a steadfast man of God. Yet there are two questions that come to mind – By what things was Paul not moved, and from what things was Paul not moved? So then, in this second part of the message, let us consider the answer to the second of these two questions – From what things was the apostle Paul unmoved as a man of God? Furthermore, through Paul’s example let us consider how we also as men and women of God may also be unmoved in our spiritual walk with the Lord.
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Unmoved, A Steadfast Man of God (Part 1) - Acts 20:22-24
Acts 20:17-24 reads, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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.”
In this passage of Scripture, we pick up the life of the apostle Paul at the end of His third missionary journey. While going about the areas of Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia, establishing and confirming churches in the faith, Paul collected money for the financially destitute church of Jerusalem. Here we find Paul in Miletus for a few days, as the ship on which he had booked passage is resupplied and outfitted for the journey. The apostle Paul, never one to waste time, takes this opportunity to send for the elders of the church at Ephesus, (Ephesus being approximately thirty miles distant). Now, as the New Testament Scriptures often use the term “elder” as a reference for the official leadership of churches, we recognize these men in our common terminology as the pastors of the church at Ephesus.
Unto these pastors the apostle Paul spends the whole of Acts 20:18-35 in a farewell address. Contextually, this address can be divided into four parts. First, in verses 18-21 there is Paul’s recollection of His past ministry with these men. Second, in verses 22-24 there is Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. Third, in verses 25-31 there is Paul’s exhortation to these pastors concerning their ministry. Fourth, in verses 32-35 there is Paul’s commendation of these pastors unto God. In this message let us consider the second of these matters – Paul’s intention to follow the Spirit’s leading. In the three verses of Acts 20:22-24, the phrase with which verse 24 begins stands out with great strength and emphasis – “But none of these things move me.” The apostle Paul was like an unmovable rock. Regardless of how the storms might blow, he remained a steadfast man of God. Yet there are two questions that come to mind – By what things was Paul not moved, and from what things was Paul not moved? So then, in this second part of the message, let us consider the answer to the second of these two questions – From what things was the apostle Paul unmoved as a man of God? Furthermore, through Paul’s example let us consider how we also as men and women of God may also be unmoved in our spiritual walk with the Lord.
From what was the apostle Paul unmoved as a man of God?
In the first place, we find that Paul was unmoved from the will of the Holy Spirit. In the opening portion of Acts 20:22, the apostle Paul began, “And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem.” Day after day Paul denied himself in order that he might walk in submission under the direction of God the Holy Spirit. He yielded himself under the Spirit’s influence and guidance. In fact, the apostle Paul was so committed to the path of submission and obedience unto God, that he considered himself as a man who was literally bound by the Holy Spirit’s direction. He considered himself to be a slave unto the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Indeed, through this commitment and submission unto the will of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Paul was unmoved by the external influences that he faced. Even so, the Lord our God and Savior also calls us to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in His work. The question for us then is this – By what will we be influenced, by the things from without, or by the Holy Spirit from within.
In the second place, we find that Paul was unmoved from the fulfillment of his course. In the opening portion of Acts 20:24, Paul declared, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.” On a number of occasions, the apostle Paul described the Christian life under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit with the illustration of a race. Even so, through this illustration we can derive a number of truths concerning our Christian lives. First, the Lord our God has set before each of us a specific path for us to follow without deviation unto the right hand or the left. Second, the Christian life requires commitment, discipline, labor, and endurance. Third, the Christian life is progressive in nature with each step being another step of spiritual growth. Fourth, the Lord our God has established a specific goal and prize toward which we are to press. This goal and prize is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, the high calling of knowing the Lord our God in perfect fellowship. The apostle Paul recognized these truths and sought to finish his course unto God’s glory. Therefore, immediately before his death Paul was able to say in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” The apostle was unmoved by external fears from the course that the Lord his God had set before him. Therefore, Paul was able to look back upon his life and understand that in God’s hands it was a useful, worthwhile, and productive life. Will we be able to say the same?
In the third place, we find that involved in the fulfillment of his course, Paul was also unmoved from his ministry for the Lord Jesus. In Acts 20:24 Paul continued, “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.” Paul recognized that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Master, and he recognized that his Lord and Master had called him to serve in the ministry of the church. In fact, the Lord our God has called every believer to serve in the ministry of a Biblically faithful church. Now, we are not all called to pastor a church, but we are all called to serve in a church. Even so, nothing moved the apostle Paul from the performance of his ministry for his Lord. Yet what about us – Are we faithfully performing our ministry for the Lord, or has something moved us off the course?
In the fourth and final place, we find that involved in the fulfillment of his course and ministry, Paul was also unmoved from his witness of the gospel. In Acts 20:24 Paul ended with the phrase, “To testify the gospel of the grace of God.” The apostle recognized his responsibility as an ambassador for Christ to bear witness unto the gospel of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Christ’s love toward him constrained Paul to bear witness unto others of Christ’s love toward them. So then, have you experienced the saving grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? God’s gift of love and grace to us is the forgiveness of all our sin and the assurance of eternal life with Him. This gift we receive from God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ; for Christ died to pay for our sins, and rose again to provide us with spiritual life. If you have you received Christ through faith as your Savior, then you are called to do His will, to minister for His name, to bear witness of his gospel, and to fulfill the course that He has set before you. What moves you – the fear of the Lord or the fear of other things?
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