Untitled Sermon

This is from an article I read some time ago, but is still holds true today. Death for someone who has not come to know God is a frightening prospect. And indeed it should be, for when one passes from this life there is no longer the possibility for coming right with God. In contrast, the dark door of death for a Christian is only the other side of the shining gate of life.

From the illustration I just read, death of this body, will occur, it is not a question of if, but when. Even if Jesus was to come back before you die, you will still shed this body.

As I stand here today, I have to ask you, are you prepared. I pray your answer is yes. If not here are a few steps you need to follow.

The title for today's message is: "Death Is Final for Some"

Our scripture is taken from: Acts 20: 21-31 (NKJV)

Acts 20:21–31 NLT

21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

BACKGROUND:

Acts 20 was a pivotal time in the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. In these verses Paul reflected on the past, and tried to prepare the church leaders of Ephesus for life without him. Our main focus tonight is vs. 21-31, but to put it in context, let's start reading at vs. 17.

Acts 20:17–31 NLT

17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 20:17–31.

MESSAGE:

There was a story that I ran across some time ago, a story about a Vietnam Vet, named Eugene J. Toni. In 1991, Eugene made a visit to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Standing under a full moon, he flipped through the directory of names on the wall. Mr. Toni was mostly looking for friends, but he turned to the T's in a long-shot search for an uncle he never met. Instead, Mr. Toni was shocked to see his own name. Eugene and his wife, Nancy, walked down to panel 17 and counted down to line 121. Eugene later said, "I showed her my name and then we both looked at each other like we couldn't believe it."

It was a wake-up call for them both.

And this passage of Scripture should be a wake-up call for us. In verse. 25, Paul told the church leaders of Ephesus that they would never see him again in this world. But Paul was ready for that final goodbye.

In today’s Scripture, he helps us know how to get ready, and it all goes back to the Word of God.

We must receive our ministry for God's Word.

We also must recognize the value of God's Word.

We must remember the urgent need for God's Word.

1. First: We must receive our ministry for God's Word.

Paul received His ministry to the fullest, and he testified about this truth in verse 22-24.

There Paul said:

Acts 20:22–24 NLT

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

The Lord Jesus gave that ministry to Paul, and he received it to the fullest. How did Paul do that?

He Counted the cost.

He ran the race.

First: He counted the cost.

To the best of Paul's ability, he counted the cost of serving Jesus Christ. And Paul didn't know all the details about the trouble coming his way. But the Holy Spirit let Paul know that there would be a high price to pay.

Again in verse 22-24, Paul said:

Acts 20:22–24 NLT

In a most inspiring way, Paul counted the cost of following Jesus. And the Lord wants us to do the same thing. In Luke 14:27-33, Jesus clearly said:

Luke 14:27–33 NLT

27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ 31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

How did Paul receive His ministry from the Lord Jesus? He counted the cost. And

He ran the race.

In verse 24, Paul said, "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."

About 10 years later, Paul was about to die, and he was able to testify that he had finished the race.

In 2 Timothy 4:7,

Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Where would we be right now if Paul hadn't counted the cost and finished the race? Which great books of the New Testament would be missing today? Would the gospel have spread throughout Europe, over to the United States, and to us? Thank God that the gospel did get spread! And it did in large part because Paul counted the cost and ran the race.

You should take note that God has given you and I a unique ministry for His Word, specific places to testify about "the gospel of the grace of God," and specific people to testify to about "the gospel of the grace of God."

Because of who you are, and where you live, because of the people you know and because the gifts you have, you may be the only person in the world who can touch a person in your circle of influence. You may be the only one that can tell them about the cross, and what it means to you!

God had a vital ministry for Paul, God has a vital ministry for me, and God has vital ministries for you. He wants us to testify about "the gospel of the grace of God" where we live, work and play.

That's how we can we get ready for our final goodbye. We must receive our ministry for God's Word. We also must recognize the value of God's Word.

We also must recognize the value of God's Word.

If we look at verse 25, Paul reminds us of the priceless value of God's Word. There the Apostle said, "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more."

Paul's listeners must have redoubled their attention, as he said in verses 26 and 27:

Acts 20:26–27 NLT

26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

With every fiber of his being, the Paul strived to declare "the whole counsel of God."

Every preacher, every teacher and every witness; Every sermon, every lesson, every testimony should strive to declare "the whole counsel of God," so that they all have the foundation of "Thus saith the Lord."

Paul surely recognized the unique value of God's Word, and so should we! But why is the Word of God so priceless? Why is it so valuable? There are many reasons why.

One reason is God's purpose for our lives.

In verse 27, Paul touched on God's purpose for our lives when he talked about the "whole counsel of God." That word "counsel" means "advice" or "will" or "purpose." This reminds us that God has great purposes for our lives, and He reveals them through His Word.

Rick Warren once said, "God has never made anything without a purpose. Every rock has a purpose. Every plant has a purpose. Every animal has a purpose. And if you're alive, YOU have a purpose." He also said, "If you want to know if God still has a purpose for your life, check your heart. If it's still beating, God still has a purpose for you here on earth."

Adapted from Rick Warren’s Week 1 Sermon for "Forty Days of Purpose

Rick Warren also did a good job outlining five of God's great purposes for our lives:

We were planned for God's pleasure: That's worship.

Formed for God's family: That's fellowship.

Created to become like Christ: That's discipleship.

Shaped for serving God: That's ministry.

And made for a mission: That's evangelism.

God's Word has infinite value, because it tells us about His purpose for our lives. And because it tells us about God's pardon.

Everybody in the world desperately needs forgiveness for their sins. Everybody needs a pardon from God. And the only place they will ever find God's pardon is in God's Word.

In this Scripture we see the essentials for getting a pardon from God. In verse 21, the essentials are "repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ."

In verse 24, the essential is "the gospel of the grace of God." And in verse 28, the essential is that Jesus Christ paid for our pardon "with His own blood."

Verse 28 also establishes the divinity of Jesus Christ, because there Paul told those pastors, "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."

By His grace, God the Son became a man and took the punishment for our sins when He poured out His blood on the cross. We receive a full pardon from God when we turn to our Risen Lord in repentance and faith. We also become part of His Kingdom. And all of this comes through the Word of God.

1 Peter 1:18-25

… explains these truths, and says we:

1 Peter 1:18–25 NLT

18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. 21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. 22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24 As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. 25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

This is the infinite value of God's Word, and this is why Paul was so careful to "declare the whole counsel of God."

How can we get ready for our final goodbyes? We must recognize the value of God's Word. And

We must remember the urgent need for God's Word.

I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul just how much everyone urgently needs to hear and respond to God's Word.

Adapted from Rick Warren’s Week 1 Sermon for "Forty Days of Purpose

In verses. 28-31, Paul wanted to pass his passion on to other preachers. So, Paul wrote this:

Acts 20:28–31 NLT

28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

These words came from a heart that carried the greatest sense of urgency. Paul had the Good Shepherd's passionate concern for His flock. And it was justified concern, because we live in a world where false teaching is rampant.

John Phillips explained why Paul was concerned, saying that Paul "needed to give final instructions to the elders of the great Ephesian church. Already the winds of heresy were beginning to blow across Asia Minor, and within a generation Gnosticism would be in full bloom.

Gnostics were false teachers. And they basically believed that only our present physical bodies were evil, so there was no harm in satisfying our selfish desires.

They actually taught that a truly spiritual man was so protected by the Holy Spirit that he could sin to his heart's content and no harm would come from it.

False teaching was rampant then and now. Research can highlight many causes, but it all gets down to this: A low view of God's Word.

Why do some churches teach that God approves of gay marriage and ministers? They have a low view of the Bible. Romans 1:21-27 speaks of people like this, it says:

Romans 1:21–27 NLT

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

False teaching is rampant. So, why do some churches teach that abortion is okay? Again, it could be that they have a low view of God's Word.

Jeremiah 1:5, the Lord told Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.''

Jeremiah became known as "the weeping prophet." He was brokenhearted over the destruction about to come to the nation of Judah. Go read Jeremiah 16

False teaching is rampant, and when people don't listen to the Lord, they will believe terrible things, make terrible decisions and suffer eternal consequences...

-- UNLESS they turn to the Lord, trust in the good news of the cross, and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Thing is that we must always remember that people have an urgent need for God's Word.

CONCLUSION:

In verse 25, Paul told the church leaders of Ephesus that they would never see him again in this world. Paul was ready for that goodbye, and in today's Scripture, he shows us how to get ready.

It all goes back to God's Word, so if we really want to be ready, we must:

-Receive our ministry for God's Word.

-Recognize the value of God's Word.

-And remember the urgent need for God's Word.

Related Media

Related Sermons