Let's turn in our Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 20. The title of the message today is taken from verse 28. The first two words, take heed. No more solemn, serious, important words For true believers, Acts chapter 20, verse 28. Take heed. What does that mean? Well, it means listen. Listen up, pay attention. There's something you need to hear. It's for your good. We as worshipers of God, there are things we need to hear. In a worship service, there are things we don't need to hear, not because we're sticking our heads in the sand, but there are things we need to take heed of. We need to beware. All those words. We need to be watchful. We need to be careful. We need to be wise. That's what this take heed means. And the main issue here is this. Take heed, and of course he's speaking here to elders. This, you know, Paul was a missionary. He had three missionary journeys into the Gentile world. And one of the places that the Lord sent him to begin a work of truth and grace, a church. You remember the name church? The word church means called out ones.

It's not a building. Some fellow asked that question on the internet this past week. Is the church a building or is it the people or is it both? It's the people. It's the people of God, period. This building is not a church, even though we refer to it that way, going to church. You who know Christ, who are saved by the grace of God, you're the church. That's the ecclesia, that's what that word is. Ecclesiastes, that's the congregation, the people. And these words given to the church are given for the glory of God and the good of his people.

But listen to what he says here in verse 28. He says, take heed therefore unto yourselves. Now he's talking to the elders of Ephesus. Paul was going to Ephesus, but he only got as far as a place called Miletus, and he called for the elders of Ephesus to come to him, and they came to him. And here's one of the things he said to him. I'm gonna go back to some of these verses, but he says, take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock.

Now you know that's a reference to the sheep, a flock of sheep. That's what the people of God are called, the sheep. Christ called us his sheep. In John chapter 10 and verse 11, he said he's the good shepherd and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. That settles the issue for me as far as for whom did Christ die? He died for his sheep. Now in this world today, there are lost sheep who don't know the way. because the shepherd is yet to bring them into the fold and reveal himself in the word and there are found sheep.

You who believe, you've been found. I was lost. Now I'm found. And you know you're found because Christ found you. Now he always knew where you were. He always knew that because he had his preserving hand before you even knew him, even when you were his enemy.

But he says, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock. He's telling these elders who are leaders in the church, they're teachers, preachers, pastors. He said, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock. Now I'm not only preaching to the flock, I'm preaching to me. This word that I'm preaching is just as much for me as it is for you. And he says, to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.

In other words, you are leaders. That word bishop is sometimes translated there. And it's not in the realm of the hierarchy like of the Catholic Church where you have Monsignors and all that rot. This is the leaders of the church that God has put in position to lead people in the word of God.

So he's made you overseers to do what? To feed the church of God, which he hath purchased, bought with his own blood. That's what an overseer is for, that's what the elders of this congregation, that's what I as the pastor and elder. I'm here to feed the flock over which God has placed me over this church which he bought with his own precious blood. That's redemption, isn't it? He purchased us. He paid the price, that's what that means.

And you know the gospel that reveals that, and I'll show you that in a minute. But that's what this is all about. Now you take heed, you elders, and I'm gonna apply it to you people, you sheep, whether you're, you may not be in a position of an overseer, but you take heed. In fact, the Bible, and it has to do with translation too, but it's true.

He tells the people of God to take heed what you hear. Now, don't just swallow anything you hear. You be careful what you hear. And then in another place, the same verse is translated, take heed how you hear. Well, what you hear is the gospel, the word of God. That's what you want to hear.

You don't want to hear the opinions of men. You don't want to hear politics. You don't want to be entertained. Well, you may want to be entertained, but you ain't going to be entertained from here. Because that's not what we're here for. That's the way a lot of congregations operate today. They want to entertain people to get them in. That's not why you should be here. Go home and watch TV.

You're here to hear the Word of God. You take heed. But also, as you're hearing the Word of God, watch your attitude. How do you hear the Word of God? You should hear it submissively. In agreement. Worshipfully. The Bible says that we worship God in spirit. In other words, our spirits. in line with the Word of God, so take heed.

Now Paul back up, look up at verse 17, he says, and from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. Now here's Paul in this place called Miletus, he calls for the elders of Ephesus, he's got something he needs to tell them. And verse 18 says, and when they were come to him and said unto them, you know from the first day that I came into Asia, it's a little place called Asia Minor, and what manner I have been with you in all seasons, you know how I've come to you, how I've acted toward you. And he says in verse 19, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears, and temptations or testings, which befall me by the line and weight of the Jews."

The unbelieving Jews were always, always after Paul. They wanted him dead. They wanted him shut up. They didn't like what he was preaching. His preaching didn't fit with theirs. His preaching of truth exposed their preaching to be lies. His preaching of grace showed their preaching to be works, works-oriented religion, performance-based.

And they hated him, and they wanted him stopped. And so they pursued him. But Paul did not stop. By the grace and power and goodness of God, he had the spiritual fortitude to go on. And it was of God. Paul said that. He said, by the grace of God, I am what I am. Don't lift up Paul. Don't exalt Paul. Lift up Christ. Lift up Christ whom Paul preached. And look at verse 20.

He says, how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you. An overseer, a preacher sent of God, does not have the right to withhold the things of God that are revealed in the Bible. And I just about guarantee that every one of you, probably, especially you older people, know of preachers who have done just that. They held things back because they thought it would upset the congregants. And you know what I'm talking about. The doctrine of grace. The doctrine of sovereignty. How many times, have any of you ever gone through the book of Romans under a false preacher and had him skip Romans 9? And he says he can't understand it. That's a lie. He understands it, he just doesn't want it. Just doesn't believe it.

But Paul said, I've kept back nothing. And that's the way I feel. I'm not going to keep back anything from you. He said, I taught you publicly and from house to house. That's how he began. He went from house to house, and then they formed a group. And look at verse 21. Here's the mainstay of his message.

Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks. Now the Greek was a way of referring to all Gentiles back then who lived in that area. So he's talking about Gentiles. The Jew and the Greek. That's the Jew and the Gentile. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks.

Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. All preaching, no matter what subject we're dealing with, ultimately should be aimed toward those goals. Faith in Christ and repentance toward God. Repentance of dead works. And what that has to do with is the revelation of God. It takes the revelation of God. Paul described it in Philippians 3. Christ spoke of it in his earthly ministry. Whatever thoughts you have about God, if they are not biblical from this book, you need to repent of that. You see, salvation is not just changing a way of life. Now that can be involved. But repentance has to do with changing gods.

Who is God? What does He say in Romans 9? Go back to that. He's a sovereign God. He's the potter. We're the clay. He does what He will, when He will, how He will. He's in control. People say that, but they don't believe it. God reveals Himself through Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. The Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, not three gods now. Somebody says, well, that's what it sounds like to me. Well, what it sounds like to you is not what it is. It's not three gods, it's one God in three persons.

And it's a good thing that that's the way it is because that's how he operates towards us. He reveals himself through the person and work of his son, the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. I mentioned last week that when it talks about the name, he that believeth on the name of Jesus Christ, the name of Christ, the name of the Lord, that's his glory. That's the glory of who he is. the glory of what He has accomplished, and the glory of how He sits now at the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession for His people. The glory of Christ.

That He, before the foundation of the world, covenanted with the Father to save a people whom the Father chose and gave to Him. And He agreed to be our surety, our substitute, our redeemer, our preserver, our intercessor, our glorifier, to save us from our sins by His obedience to the law and His death on the cross, to redeem us, ransom us. He purchased us. He will have us. He doesn't lose any of His people for whom He died. He purchased us. We belong to Him.

The righteousness of God revealed in the gospel is the imputed righteousness of Christ that He has applied to our account, having given our sins to Him, Christ taking our sins upon Himself, dying for our sins justly under the wrath of God, drank damnation dry, and secured the salvation of every one of His people whom He purchased.

He died, he was buried, and what did he do? He arose again the third day. Walked this earth, seen of over, what did he say, 500 people? And then ascended unto his father in glory, promising to return again in a day that he hasn't revealed to us. But he's coming.

And to draw his people, to Christ showing us our absolute sinfulness and depravity and helplessness. To this point, our only hope of salvation and to be accepted with God and to live forever in glory is Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, the Lord our righteousness. That's what Paul preached. Look at verse 22.

He says, and now behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem. That means he's motivated by the spirit, not knowing the things that shall befall me there. If you were the apostle Paul, humanly speaking, Jerusalem was probably the last place you'd want to be because there was danger there for him. But he said, I don't know what's gonna befall me there, but verse 33, say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Wait for me, that's what he's saying. But none of these things move me, he said. Neither can 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, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." There it is. Good news. Going into a town, standing up before a crowd, saying, I've got the greatest news that you could ever hear. And the majority of the religions say, we'll put you in jail for preaching that. What a contradiction. But that's what they did to our Lord. That's what we did to our Lord in the form of fallen humanity. He preached grace. He preached righteousness. Verse 25 says, and now behold I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. This is it. Paul knew that. So wherefore for this reason I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men. Now what does he mean by that? It's simply this, I told you the truth.

If you perish, I'm not responsible. I've told you the way of life. I've told you the way of righteousness, the way of salvation, the way of eternity. Now, if I, like false preachers, told you another way, then your blood would be on my hands. But it's not, he said. Verse 27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Whatever God reveals, that's what I've preached.

So take heed. Take heed to yourselves and to 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. Well, Paul, why is this such a dire, serious thing with you? What's coming? And then he tells them why.

Take heed because I know, verse 29, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Grievous wolves? Yes. The word grievous pretty much has the connotation of heaviness. And I think what he's saying here is this. These grievous wolves, these false preachers, wolves, they're going to put a heavy burden on you that you cannot bear. And what is that burden?

Well, turn over to Matthew chapter 7. Christ warned of this in Matthew 7 as He began concluding the Sermon on the Mount. And the Sermon on the Mount is really fraught with the requirements and conditions with the law of God, which no sinner can fulfill. And he shows them that. You remember he said, your righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees. These men whom you're following religiously, these men whom you look up to and you admire and you think are the cream of the crop in religion, the righteousness that they claim, your righteousness has to exceed that.

That's Matthew 5.20, isn't it? Has to exceed that, else you will not see the kingdom of God. And remember, Paul said, I preach to you the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of righteousness, it's the kingdom of grace, it's the kingdom of peace. But you've got to exceed that.

And then he goes by to show them that they claim to be law keepers, but they're not keeping the law. I mean, they'll tell you that it's a sin for you to go out and kill somebody, but I'm telling you, listen, it's a sin for you to even think about or desire to kill somebody. They tell you it's a sin to commit adultery, but I'm telling you it's a sin for you to even think upon a woman and lust after her. They're not keeping the law.

They fall short. We all fall short, don't we? For all I've sinned and come short of the glory of God. What does that mean? It means we miss the standard. We miss the qualification. We fall short. Well, the Pharisee says, I only fall two degrees short. That publican over there, he falls 100 degrees short. Doesn't matter. You're still short.

Well, what is this standard you're talking about? Well my friend, the standard is Christ. That's right. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe it. He is the standard. There's coming a day in which God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained and that he hath given assurance unto all men. And then he raised him from the dead. You've got to be as righteous as Christ, who never sinned, never had a thought of sin, a motive of sin, a goal of sin. He was perfect. Somebody says, well, how can that be for me a sin? Well, let me tell you the gospel. Let me tell you the good news. Submit to him. Forsake yourself. Repent of your dead works. and run to Christ for all salvation. And so that's what Christ was telling them in the Sermon on the Mount. That's what Paul was telling them. That's what John and Luke, Peter, all of them. Well, here in John chapter 7, he says in verse 13, Enter ye in at the straight gate. Now you see that word straight, it's like a straight that a ship passes through in a waterway. The straight gate.

For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction. Now the way to destruction and eternal damnation, it's a wide way. It gives a wide berth. There's a lot of different ideas on that one. Lot of different denominations, lot of different religions, lot of different people. It's a wide gate. It'll make room for you. It's a wide gate. And many there be which go in there at, many.

Somebody says, you know, I can't believe how many people buy into a false gospel. Well, number one, I bought into it for years. And the Lord brought me out. And number two, he says here, many there be which go therein, don't you believe him? And he says in verse 14, because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. I'm not gonna get into the numbers game like some preachers do. But it's a narrow way, why?

Because there's only one way and no other. And Christ said it in John 14, 6, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. The only way to God is the way of Christ, the way of grace, the way of the cross, the way of righteousness, the way of mercy, the way of the blood. And there's no other way. And it will not allow you to come any other way.

So the next thing he says here in verse 15, Matthew said, beware of false prophets, take heed. That's what Paul's saying to the Ephesians. Because false prophets are coming. Which come to you in sheep's clothing. Now think about that. They're disguised as preachers of righteousness, as preachers of Christ even. But inwardly they're ravening wolves. They're seeking followers. That's what that means.

You see, I've often said it this way. One of the things that I learned in the seminary I went to, which was not a gospel seminary, was how to get people into the church. That was a big thing. And boy, you ought to hear some of the ways we learned. I mean, it's embarrassing, actually.

The moment a preacher asks himself this question. Now, I'm telling you, I would love to see this building full. I would love to see chairs in the aisle and all that. I would love to see us have to sell this and build a bigger one. But the moment a preacher asks himself this question, how can I get more people into this church?

He leaves the scripture. Now, I'll ask people to come to church. I'll encourage them to. But I'm not going to devise ways and means and methods to get them here. All right? Because I'm just going to preach to whoever's here. I hope there's a lot. We got a pretty good little crowd this morning. I hope there's a lot. But that's not my business.

These ravening wolves, they want to preach to anybody. They can get in by whatever means, you know, putting a $20 bill below the bus seat. You know how they did it and all that stuff. Choirs, entertainment. But he says inwardly, they're ravening wolves. They're not here for the glory of God and the good of the people. They're here to feed their own pride, their own ego, their own pockets, whatever. But look at verse 16. He says, you shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?

Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits you shall know them." Now, the good tree and the bad tree, what are those?

Well, the good tree is Christ. That's why I'm preaching Christ. And he doesn't bring forth any bad fruit. The fruit of his power and goodness and salvation are always the church that he purchased. Now, can there be bad fruit in the congregation and leave lost? Yes, but they're not his fruit. The bad tree is a false gospel, a false Christ. And the only thing it can produce is bad fruit.

And that's what this is talking about. People who walk out and say, well, I'm saved by my works, that's not the result of my preaching. Because I don't preach salvation by your works. Now you may believe that, and you may go out believing that, and you may tell other people that, but you didn't get it from me.

And that's what Paul's talking about over here when he says, Take heed therefore to yourselves. Make sure you preach Christ. Preach His grace, His goodness, His righteousness, His person, His work. Take heed that your message is not fraught with what I think be the two of the most deceptive problems that Satan uses. One is legalism, preaching the law. either for justification or for sanctification, or love that is compromised. You know, it always sounds more loving to tell people what they want to hear, rather than telling them what they need to hear.

And that's what he's saying. But one more thing here, let's look at it, go back to Acts 20. He says in verse 30, when he says about these grievous wounds, he says in verse 30, also of your own self shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves. They'll come from within your own congregation. That's why you have to take heed. So therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone 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, that's edification, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Take heed, okay.