Turn to Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20. While you're turning, before
I read, I will say this. The knowledge of final parting, that is when you begin to realize
that it may be the last time you're going to see somebody.
The knowledge of final parting often genders a deep sense of
necessity. And rightfully so. Rightfully
so. I'm not talking simply about
emotions. We all have emotions, and when we realize someone's
maybe on the way out, or maybe the last time we see someone,
emotions rise up. I understand that. But you remember
Jacob? Before he died, he gathered his
12 sons together. And he gave them commands. And
even prophecies concerning themselves and their offspring. And it says,
and when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons. In other
words, Jacob said what he had to say. He didn't just go on
and go on and go on. And when Jacob had made an end
of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into his bed and
yielded up the ghost. And was gathered unto his people.
That's faith. That's faith. I've said what
I got to say, I'm done now. It's in God's hands. Put his
feet up in his bed and he died. You remember, that's in Genesis
49, by the way, if you want to read that sometime. You remember
David, King David? It actually says in 2 Samuel
chapter 23, these are the last words of David the king, the
sweet psalmist of Israel. And one of the things he said
was this, although my house be not so with God. God hadn't done
for all of my kinfolk what he's done for me. That's why he understood
that. And let me tell you, David was
partly to blame. You remember David did something
and God said because of this the sword's not going to depart
from your house. But nevertheless, One of his last words was this,
although my house be not so with God, yet he hath made with me
an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, for this
is all my salvation and all my desire, although he make it not
to grow. Amazing. And you remember even
our Lord Jesus Christ, right before he ascended up into glory,
I mean, he bodily, was raised up in the glory. Acts chapter
one, it says he commanded them to wait. You know, most of the
time you'd think, well, that's the one thing we shouldn't do
is wait. Let's do something. He said, wait. Now there's something
to do, but right now you wait. You wait for the promise of the
father, the sending of the spirit of God. So now let's read Paul's
final words to the elders of the church at Ephesus. The title
of my message is, Paul Calls for the Ephesian Elders. Now
I realize that somebody sees it online, they'll be like, well,
okay. Wow, what a title. But that's what happened. Verse
17 of Acts 20, and from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called
the elders of the church. When they were come to him, he
said unto them, 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, don't be
afraid of tears. Many tears and temptations which
befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews. That's the people
he cared about. Yet they stalked him like a rabid
dog. and how I kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught
you publicly 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 in the
Spirit into 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." That is the
point. 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. And now, behold,
I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom
of God shall see my face no more. Wherefore, I take you to record
this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, Here's the one reason why he
says that. For I have not shunned or declared to you all the counsel
of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves
and all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased
with his own blood. For I know this, that after my
departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing
the flock, also of your own selves. And I'm adding woe. And also of your own selves shall
men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples
after them. Therefore watch and remember
that by the space of three years I cease not to warn every one
night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend
you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build
you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver
or gold or apparel. Ye yourselves know that these
hands, I can see him doing this. I don't know whether he did,
but I almost see Paul doing this. Yea, ye yourselves know that
these hands have ministered unto my necessities and to them that
were with me. I have showed you in all things
how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember
the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it's more blessed
to give. than to receive. When he had
thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. They
all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. Don't be afraid of showing affection
for one another. God help us. God help us. They all wept sore and fell on
Paul's deck and kissed him, sorrying most of all for the words which
he spake." Now think about that. He didn't tell them. Some among
your own selves. But here's what they sorrowed
about. The words which he spake that they should see his face
no more. They accompanied him under the
ship. The thought of final parting
can gender great sorrow. That's where this leaves off,
isn't it? It ought to gender great sorrow.
But the sorrow was not for Paul. It was for themselves. What they
were going to miss out. This is a good sorrow. Because
it's what they're going to miss out on. They're not going to
see Paul's face anymore. And then people say, well, I
don't have to go to church. No, your problem is you don't
want to go to church. That's exactly it. Now I'm using
the phrase that I said you ought not use, but you know what I'm
saying. People make excuses. People who
profess to know God. You're right. Make excuses as
to why they don't have to come. Oh yeah. Boggles my mind. It really does. It really does. The thought of final parting,
congenital sorrow. This wasn't even, well Paul's
going to die tomorrow. He's just going away now. He may die somewhere
out there. Afflictions and bonds abide him,
which lets us know immediate death was not the problem. The
problem was we're not going to have that sweet face to face
fellowship with this man anymore. Nevertheless, what did Paul pass
on to the church at Ephesus? by way of the elders. That's
the whole reason. By way of the elders. Now let
me give you an overview. This is not the message, but
an overview of these passages. I'm going to give you eight things.
I'm trying to give you an overview here. But listen to what I say. Each one of these eight things
has its New Testament epistle doctrine established. Be careful
in the book of the Acts when you read that somebody did certain
things that means we've got to do it that way too. You gotta
be careful. Now if the New Testament epistles
establish something as a practice, then it's what we're to practice.
But let me give you an example. Paul and Silas were in prison.
And it says at midnight they prayed. So does that mean then
that if I am ever in prison, that at midnight I got to stop
everything and start praying? Do you see what I'm saying? You
got to be careful. You got to be careful. Now when
I say that, I'm not throwing a question mark on Acts chapter
20 of what Paul said. But I'm just trying to point
out that each one of these eight things I want to give you as
an overview even before we get to the message. All of these
eight things are backed up by the preponderant evidence of
the doctrinal teachings of the New Testament epistles of how
we are to believe and walk and practice. Number one, no one
elder was ever vested with all oversight of any assembly. That's backed up in New Testament
doctrine. Paul called for the elders at
Ephesus. And there was only one church
at Ephesus. They didn't have the Baptist
Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Church of Christ, the Church
of God, the Church of England, the Episcopalians, the Roman
Catholics. They had elders, plural, they
had elders, and no one elder was vested with all oversight
of any assembly. That's taught right here, and
that's backed up. Paul told Titus, you ordain elders,
plural, in every city. Number two, elders equals bishops. Verse 17, he calls them to come,
who, to come to Miletus, the elders. Then he calls them, what? Overseers, that's the same word,
bishops. A bishop is not a man that's over many assemblies.
A bishop is an elder. Bishop also equals pastor. Elder,
bishop, pastor all speak of the same group of men. Elders equals
bishops, that's overseers. Equals pastor, that's feed. You see that in verses 17 and
28. Thirdly, God has ordained leaders in the
church. He's ordained it so. Why? Because He wants it that way. New Testament epistle doctrine
backs this all up. Number four. Love is mutual and
genuine amongst believers. It ain't why I don't have to
be there, it's oh God enable me to. Allow me the privilege
to gather with God's people. Love is mutual and it's genuine
amongst believers. Number five, the elders responsibility,
that is bishops, pastors, that's what they are. the elders' responsibility
to the assembly, and it's not in a certain order, I'm just
giving you what it says, oversight, feeding, watching, remembering,
praying, holding back nothing that's profitable, preaching
repentance toward God, preaching faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is to preach the gospel of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. That's the elder's responsibility.
It's not up to me to tell you whether you should buy a brand
new car or a used car. You're right. Okay? It's not up to me. But it is
a responsibility of mine and a responsibility of Joe Glusick's
to declare unto you, thus saith the Lord. Amen. And if I give
you this counsel, if you buy a new car, that means those payments
are going to cause you to not be able to attend the service
anymore. When if you buy you a used one, you could still do
so. I'm going to tell you, my wise counselors, you better buy
the used one if that's what it'll do. Now, do you hear what I'm
saying? Do you understand the difference
in those two things? There's a difference. How many of you that have a responsibility
in your family have ever told somebody, this is the best way
to do this? Why? Because you've been there.
Probably because you screwed up and did the wrong thing and
you realize that's not the best way to do it. You know? Not because you're so great.
Not because you're there and you've conquered it all. But
because you've been there before. So that's the elders responsibility
to the assembly. That's number five. Number six.
Infiltrators and turncoats shall arise. Those on the outside will
sneak in. those from the inside will rise
up against. Eyes open, people. You hear what I said? Eyes open,
people. Evil communications corrupt good
manners. You cannot, I cannot escape that. Do not play games with God. He'll show you the reality of
that one little verse. Evil communications will corrupt
good manners. And he ain't talking about how
you eat at the table when you sit down, whether you use the
salad fork or the other fork. He's talking about hanging around
with the wrong people will affect your life and the way you believe
and the way you think and the way you walk. That's what he's
talking about. Why? Because infiltrators and
turncoats. If I was to abandon, if next
week y'all realize that I left and went to Florida because I
wanted to live at Daytona Beach so every year I could be right
there for the Daytona 500. That's happening today. How would
y'all feel about that? Would y'all throw me a birthday
party the week after that? Would you? Would you cuddle up
with me and just say, well, we just love you, brother? All of
your heart ought to ache. You know? Am I making sense to
anybody here today? Infiltrators and turncoats shall
arise. Eyes open. Eyes open. Out there and right in here too. You hear? That's what Paul said.
Number seven. Only God and the Word of His
grace, not just grace, the Word of His grace. Only God in the
Word of His grace is able to edify and give inheritance. You
abandon either one, you've abandoned all hope. Number eight, and lastly, there's
another touchy one. No elder should ever be ashamed
to work with his own hands as well as in the ministry. That's
true. But we can't have two pastors.
We can't afford it. We can't have two pastors, two
bishops. We can't afford to pay them both
a salary. Well, then have two and don't, and let them work
some. Don't muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads the corn.
You feed him his daily rations, then you let him eat what he
needs, even as he's treading the corn out. Listen to me! No elder should
ever be ashamed to have to go out and do physical labor. Why? Because it's more blessed to
give than to receive. That's back to Paul. all throughout
several epistles. He keeps encouraging everybody,
work, work, work, work, what? Work physical menial jobs. It's a part of living in this
world. I encourage you to take those
eight things. That's not even the message.
That's just the overview to what Paul said here. Did Paul say
what I've just given you there in those eight things? Every
one of them. Every one of them. But I encourage
you to go to the New Testament Epistle Doctrine and study these
eight things. Why? Because they are, thus saith
the Lord. That's the overt of you. Now
let's concentrate on verse 28. And it is 5 minutes till 12.
So you know what that means. It means it's going to be a little
while before we get out of here. Now that's the overview. Let's concentrate
on verse 28. And the reason I say verse 28
is because verse 28 is the central theme to Paul's words to the
Ephesian elders. Verse 28 is like the crescendo
of it all. Look at it. Take heed therefore
unto yourselves. and to all the flock over which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." How profound
is that truth? Everything else points. Everything
else Paul said to them points to that. It all comes back to
that. That's the central theme of Paul's
last words. to the church at Ephesus through
the elders at Ephesus. Now I'm going to give you four
things in the body of my message. The first two will be brief.
I'll mention a couple things. You study them later. The third
and fourth I want to deal with in more detail. Number one, no
elder is above the fray. The first thing he says is take
heed to the flock. No. Take heed to what? Yourselves. Do you see it? No elder is above the first.
Isn't that simple enough? Take heed first of all to what?
Yourself. Do you see it? Take heed therefore
unto yourselves and to the flock. Do you see it? And to all the
flock. Paul puts it this way in the
New Testament. The elders that sin, rebuke before all that others
may fear. That's what it says. Now, it
does not say the elders that have sinned, rebuke before all. You know why? Because we've all
sinned and come short of the glory of God. You see the difference?
In other words, deal with it when it happens. Don't wait 15
years and then throw it up in the man's face. You see what
I'm saying? That's exactly what it says.
If you don't see that, it's because you've got some kind of rebellion
in your heart and mind. I have had to as a pastor. It
ain't something I relish. It ain't something I look forward
to. This woman knows that there are times when I lay awake at
night because I know I've got to deal with a certain problem
from a certain person. And you call that person and
what do they do? They throw up your past. Really? Every one of us has got
skeletons in the closet. Every one of us. No, it says
the elders that sin, it's in the present ongoing active sins. The elder is not above the fray,
folks. You know, there are people that
actually think the preacher is kind of like the second, he's
like in the next step up to Jesus. You got the regular believers
and you got the preacher and the preacher's wife, she's kind
of right in there somewhere, don't you think? And then you
got Jesus up there. I put on my pant leg one at a
time just like everybody else. And I'm so fat now I can't put
on one at a time. I can't jump in them both at
one time like I used to when I was young. I'm a fallen sinner
like everybody else. But my message is not me. My
message is the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And
your problem with me is not me. Your problem is with God Almighty. Because, here's number two, to
attack an elder is to assault the purpose of God Himself, over
which the Holy Ghost made you overseers. You did not call me
into this ministry. God Almighty did. God Almighty, He put me here.
Joe, He put you here. He put Earl Cochran here. He
put every grace minister, every pastor, bishop, elder out there.
He put them in that ministry. When you attack Him, you assault
God. Mark it down. He said that when
Christ ascended, He gave gifts unto men. And what are those
gifts? Other men. Apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors, teachers. Now I want you to think about
this. God gave a perfect gift in imperfect people. Think about
that. Just a clay pot, but oh, what
God Almighty bestowed in that clay pot. It's a clay pot! Joe, you preached about that
here a while back. And that even includes you as a believer in
Christ when you take the gospel to someone else. But specifically,
Paul here is talking to the elders. You watch yourself. Take heed
therefore unto yourselves and all the flock over which the
Holy Ghost made you overseers. And I learn, like most of us,
I learn by my mistakes. At least I learn what my mistakes
are. It's not always learned, I've always do better. I learn
what the mistakes are. And I stand up here and warn
people when I see them making the same mistakes and then they
get mad at me. Like somehow they think I'm wanting
to damn them in hell. You're just trying to warn their
soul. They start attacking the messenger. You know why? Because
they in fact hate the message. Listen to what Paul wrote to
the Hebrews. Hebrews 13 verse 17. Obey them. Do you see those words? Obey
them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. for they watch for your souls,
as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy
and not with grief, for that's unprofitable for you." Now, it
hurts the minister. It's tough. It hurts the man
that has the rule. The barbs sting. You lay awake
at night. You shed tears. You wish to God
you was a better man, but you're not. You're a fallen clay pot. But they're missing the whole
thing. They're rejecting not you, they're rejecting the message. But you know what the real problem
is? The problem is going to be for the people that reject the
messenger. Because you reject the messenger, you give him a
hard time, you are attacking the purpose of God. Why? Because
God gave this. And then somebody says, no man
tells me what to do. Oh, really? I get my direction
from God. Oh, really? What language did
he speak to you when he did that? Well, I read it straight from
the Bible. Oh, wait a minute. Which book? Well, Ephesians. Well, Paul wrote that. 1 Timothy. Paul wrote that one. 2 Peter. Peter wrote that one.
I like Jude. Jude really helps me. Jude wrote
that one. God Almighty uses men. Well,
what about Abram? You ain't Abram. That's exactly
right. He spoke directly to Abram. You
ain't Abram. That's right. Amen. You're in
the New Testament assembly and God speaks to the New Testament
assembly by men from this word, which is nothing more than the
writings of men, inspired by God himself. Well, I just don't see it that
way. It's cause you're blind. That's it. It says a man does,
he's blind and cannot see far off. All he sees is the end of
his nose. And what's that? Me, me, me. Exactly. That's just number one and two. Here's number three. The flock.
Yes sir. The flock equals the church. Think about that. I mean, I've
read this for years, but all of a sudden it dawned on me.
The flock equals the church. He calls the flock the church. He calls the church the flock
right here in the same verse. Just like he calls the bishops
pastors right here in the same verse. The flock equals the church. Look, take heed therefore unto
yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased
with his own blood. Amen. He's saying to these Ephesian
elders and to every other elder, Joe, every other bishop, every
other pastor, God Almighty, give you charge over something that's
His. Not yours. I don't want you to
be like me. Oh, He wants us to be better
than Him. That wouldn't do you no good
either. You must be found of God in absolute righteousness
or you will perish forever. I'm not the standard. The law
is not even the standard. The law shows us how much we've
missed the standard. No flock equals church. In other
words, flock speaks of our belonging to the shepherd. Go back to John
10. You know it very well. I am the
good shepherd. I lay down my life for the sheep. He ain't talking about a flock
of birds. He's talking about a flock of sheep. How do I know that? Because that's a preponderant
testimony of Scripture. And he said, now the sheep I
have, which are not of this fold, not of the Jewish fold, them
also I must bring. And there shall be, what? One fold and one shepherd. Well, I don't have to be a part
of that group. Well, somebody said, are you
a part of the group? If I'm not, I ain't a part of One School
of Matter? That's exactly it. There is but one flock and one
shepherd. That's exactly it. Amen. We're not talking about
who all goes to the same conferences together. No. No, we're talking
about being a part of God Almighty's flock. Amen. That flock of sheep
that is known by Christ. That Christ died for. That He brought in and that He
makes one fold with one shepherd. The flock. So the flock speaks
of our belonging to the shepherd. Church speaks of our calling
out. Right? Calling out. Out of darkness. spiritual darkness. I know this. There's a lot I think I know.
There's some things I do know. But I know nothing yet as I ought
to know it. But I do know this. There was
a time when I was blind. I know this. Now I see. I know that. Well, maybe you're
deceived. Then I'm still thinking. No,
if you're blind and God Almighty gives you sight, guess what,
Joe? You see. That's what Joe was preaching
this morning. It speaks of our calling out, out of darkness,
out of the world. Christ told us, I chose you out
of the world. So don't try dilly-dallying around
with them anymore. You got responsibilities in this
world, deal with it with a stiff jaw and a stiff backbone saying
I must go through this. That's what it's all about. We can't start our own little
commune. People have tried. It don't work. It don't work. You can't go off
into a monastery. You end up as a sexual pervert
when you do that. Would that be a little too hard?
Am I lumping too many? Maybe they all don't. But some
of them have. Huh? No. College church speaks for being
called out, out of darkness, out of the world, out of false
religion, and out of pseudo-Christianity. You can't dilly-dally around
with both. You cannot dilly-dally around
with free will if you believe the gospel of the grace of God
anymore than you can dilly-dally around with worshiping an elephant
with a man's head or an elephant's head and a man's body, whatever.
I think it's an elephant's head with a man's body in Hinduism.
It's the same error. It's the same kind of thing.
It's called a lie. Well, as long as they believe
in Jesus, the devils believe and tremble. Exactly. But they've
got no obedience before God. That's right. God said, kill
your son, Abraham. Abraham said, all right. We're
going up. You know why? Because he knew God had to raise
that boy up again. Because he promised him a seed
through that boy. That's right. Rahab received the spies by faith. She received them in peace. That's
one of the two things that James even uses as good works. Works that justify, even James
says. Does he not? Not before God,
but what it justifies living faith. It proves the reality
of true living faith. So church speaks of our being
called out of darkness, out of the world, out of false religion,
out of pseudo-Christianity. But church also means this. It speaks of our being called
together. Yes. So a lot of people want
the glory that I'm called out, so I'm called out to be by myself.
And I'll do what I want, when I want, where I want. I'll believe
what I want, when I want, where I want. I'll attend service when
I want, as I want. Oh no. Oh no. You're called out
The word church also means called together, an assembly. God didn't make the Ephesian
elders, elders over all the church. He made them elders over what?
The local assembly at Ephesus. So that lets me know that God's
people become a part of a local assembly. At least, Jay, in here. Even if they can't be so out
here, Paul, all the time. They want even what they don't
always have, which is nothing more than the truth of God when
He calls the people to church. Take heed, He said, didn't He? Take heed. That was number three.
Flock equals church. You're either both or you're
neither one. You see what I'm saying? You're
either both or you're neither one. Well, I might be one of
the elect. You're either both or you're
neither one. This ain't about who was elected. This is about what God elected
them for. That's right. That's what election's
about. God chose us to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and that must always come first.
But what must always then and will always come second? Belief
of the truth. Where it shall be called you,
what? by our gospel. Take heed, do you see it? Take
heed, what? Feed, feed, feed, feed. Isn't that what he says? Feed. You don't want me telling you
how to spend your paycheck. If you've ever seen the way I've
spent mine in times past. And I'll tell you this, God tells
me feed. Feed, feed, and that's what I
attempt to do all the time. Feed, feed, feed. Now sometimes
when you feed, you gotta warn. You best eat all of this, because
there ain't no more coming tomorrow. You ever had to do that? You
best get all you can while you're there. Or, you better take this
in a little moderation. This is a big meal. But it's
still all what? Feed. Feed. Feed. Take heed, number four, take
heed to what? Feed the church of God which
He purchased, not is purchasing, which He purchased, past accomplished
act. Take heed to feed the church
of God which He hath purchased with His own blood. That is one of the mysteries
of godliness. Do you know that? God, God manifests
in the flesh. The blood here, the blood, Paul
here calls the blood of human nature. The blood that is a created
thing. God is spirit. The blood of human
nature, here Paul calls the very blood of God Himself. This was God made flesh. Not imputed flesh. You know there
was a heresy at one time that was big that said Jesus just
appeared to be a man. He looked like a man, but he
really, he looked like human flesh, but he really wasn't flesh.
He really wasn't human. He didn't really have that nature. That's because, while they weren't
doing it, that's the same thing you do when you try to supplant
the word impute for the word made. Anywhere. Anywhere. Made means made. Impute means
to put to the account of. God was made flesh. God himself, holy, eternal, immutable,
etc., etc., etc. God joined himself to the stink
of human sweat and to the smell of human excrement. I say that with all of the reverence
for God, Joe, that I can muster. Yet God himself joined himself
to that. Did he not? He sweat. He had to go, Joe. God himself made flesh. It was God's blood. And yet,
Paul says this even more profound thing, which he purchased. The church which he purchased
with his own blood. And I looked that up. You know,
you think of redemption, being on the slave market. being bought
off the slave. All those things are true, but
this is a specific word. It means to make around oneself. Or to acquire for personal possession. The church is not Jesus Christ's
summer home where He just shows up every couple weeks or a couple
weeks a year. You see what I'm saying? Men
purchase a house. They live in that house. They
purchase a second home that they go to on vacation. What this
is talking about, this is talking about the main dwelling place. Does not the scripture say that
when God sent the Holy Spirit down here, he also has sent him
where? Him to our hearts? That our bodies are the very
temple of God himself? in the person of the Spirit of
God. He purchased us for His personal possession. It means
to buy unto oneself. He didn't just buy us and set
us free. He bought us and gathered us
unto Himself. the church, to purchase, to save,
to spare for oneself. And notice he said, over which
to feed all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased.
He is not purchasing the church. He has purchased the church. This implies, this implies this,
the church is God's by purpose, The church is God's by purchase,
the church is God's by power, and all three are according to
God's will. They depend nothing upon man. That implication implies two
great truths. Number one, the compassion of
the Son. for that flock and for that church. Think of the condescension. He
is now, everlastingly, a man. Right now, he's seated at the
right hand of God in flesh and bone. Right? The eternal God, as I always
used to say, confined himself to the womb of a virgin for nine
months. But that's nothing to the fact
that he confined himself to human flesh forever. That's condescension. That's coming down in a good
way. That shows His love, His compassion,
His mercy, His long-suffering for this flock, for this church. It implies that. He doesn't say
it here, Joe, but it implies that. Which God purchased with
His own blood. That implies the compassion of
the Son for this flock. and this church, but it also
implies this, the condition of this church and flock. In two
ways, look at what it took. By nature, we are not the flock
and the church. We are as corrupt as the biggest
reprobate that ever walked by nature. My heart by nature, my
Adamic nature is no better than Balaam himself, than Korah
himself, than Judas Iscariot himself. The condition of this church,
this flock, Look at what it took, which God purchased with His
own blood. But look at what it wrought. It took this act of God in condescension. But it says we've been raised
up together in Christ Jesus. And seated together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. Now, that's sheep food. It may not have been an exciting
message. It may not have been filled with a lot of great singing,
although I think we do fairly well here. It may not have been,
it probably didn't have much entertainment in it. I'm not
promising you we're going to go skiing next weekend on the
church bus. I can't ski anyway. If y'all
want to pay for me to get on a big rubber thing and bounce
around like an old fella, I can do that, but I said you pay for
me. No, I'm just kidding. That's sheep food. What Paul
told these Ephesian elders was sheep food. The question is this, does it
feed me? Does it feed me? I can't answer
that question. Does it feed me? Does it feed
you? I asked you the question, I can't
answer it for you. It feeds the sheep. It is the
distinguishing message of the church. Is it not? Don't mix up any other message
with that message. Don't try to make them get along.
They can't get along. The only thing you can do concerning
God's message to make it get along with the message of the
world is to compromise God's message. And when you do, if
I do, it ceases to be the message of God. And it becomes a perversion
of the gospel of Christ. Father, be with those who are
going through tough trials right now, possibly even losing loved
ones, people very close to others who were just suffering and other
difficulties of life, the responsibilities of life, even in our small group. Oh God, strengthen us by yourself
and the word of your grace. I ask it in Christ name. Amen. welcome. Well, that's the thing I was
telling you, you know, even even Christ said if a brother offend
you go to it doesn't say wait 10 years and then throw it up
in his face. You know, it ain't easy, but
if you