Part 1 - What Moves You?
Our opening text sums up the character and purpose of Paul. If you took this one passage of Scripture without knowing a single thing of his life, you may not be impressed. But, study the life of this man and you will be astounded.
I've spent many hours studying the Apostle Paul. I have bookshelves filled with books of his life and ministry. I've often wondered what it would have been like to know him personally. What would it have been like to sit in on one of his sermons?
Paul was addressing the elders of the church at Ephesus. He had been with them for 3-years, preaching in the Synagogue, going from house to house teaching about Jesus Christ. The Ephesians had come to know and love Paul. If you read this entire chapter you will find a very touching goodbye. As Paul is poised to board a ship they all join together to pray and weep as they bid him farewell. They thought they would never see their beloved preacher ever again.
As I look at this event I can't help but be stricken with how much passion the Apostle Paul had for people. A man that once had a deep seeded hatred for these same types of people. A man that chapter 9 of the book of Acts says was so full of rage that he was breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. He was once eat up with hate! But, here in chapter 20 we see a completely different man. A man that was totally given over to Christ. A man who's heart had done a 180 degree turn. This same man that once was causing others to cry in fear at his presence is now causing men to cry in sadness of his departure. My friend, this is a testimony to the power of Jesus!
Paul, not knowing what the future held for him assumed that this would be the last time he would see his friends. He tells them that he leaves not knowing the things that will befall him. He assumes that he will be killed for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He wanted to make sure that the church would be able to carry on without him. He warns them of false teachers that would slip into their church, trying to sway them from their beliefs. He tells them to hold fast to the faith. He is more worried about the church than he is his own life. He says that he doesn't count his life dear but his only desire is to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
In Part 2 we will look at Paul's passion and what he is talking about when he says, "none of these things move me."
You can read each of the post by following the links below:
Part 1 - What Moves You?
Part 2 - What Moves You?
Part 3 - What Moves You?
Part 4 - What Moves You?
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