POWERFUL!

This is 20 of the MOST POWERFUL verses you'll read in The Word.

If you've ver wanted a big brother to look up to and emulate, here he is...big brother Paul.

Act 20:18-38 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

I love the way Paul pointed out that he not only preached in the synagogues and public squares; but he also went house to house preaching The Gospel. And as we will see later in this section, he did this without asking anyone for anything!

21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Right there is one verse where Paul makes it as clear as he can...REPENTANCE and FAITH....not just faith....remember, these are his parting words....forever, to this group

22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

Check out how Paul puts this....he says "I don't know what awaits me, but I do know this...."

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

Knowing this, the only thing Paul wants to do is glorify God and finish strong:

24 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.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Notice how Paul said, THE WHOLE COUNCIL OF GOD....not part of it....not just the fluffy stuff...he shared the whole deal (as we will see in his other letters, specifically Galatians, Ephesians and Colossians)

Then he leaves them (and us) with a stearn warning that he can utter enough:

28 Therefore 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.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

We can not say that we have not been warned of false religions, false teachers and false christs....John warns us, Paul warns us, Peter warns us and of course Jesus warns us. Do not fall in to false doctrine! The most previlant false teaching today (under the guise of Christianity) is "easy believism". "the health-wealth-prosperity non-sense" and "universialism"....BE WARNED!

32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

How glorious is that! Our Daddy has an inheritance waiting for all those who have been set apart for His Glory.

33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Paul is giving them more parting words and he makes it clear; do not covet, do not be greedy....but instead be generous and content.

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.