Transcript

The Good Shepherds

Acts 20:17-38
Sunday, August 12, 2001
Pastor Randy Smith

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Christ will build His church. Is He constructing in our midst? Are we a church that emulates the blueprint laid out for us in the Scriptures? I've held that question before you for the past nine weeks, and I trust you have drawn some conclusions in that time.

Are the Christian duties of prayer, fellowship, ministry and giving, a joy or a burden? Is affliction a time to trust and thank God, or is it a time to doubt and disdain God? Are the gender and age discipleship responsibilities applied, or are they neglected? Are we adorning the gospel of Jesus Christ, or showing unbelievers a poor example? Are individuals in the church actively involved in ministry, or do many sit back and allow others to do all the work? Is the church growing spiritually or backsliding? Is truth that which is attained from the Bible or does anything fly as being acceptable? Does the church have a desire to repent or is sin mocked, cherished and neglected? Are we committed to unity, or do factions and partiality exist among our members?

Then today , do we see the biblical need for the plurality of elders, or are we content with limited and/or unqualified leadership? There is no doubt that elders (along with deacons, to whom I am very thankful) are an essential ingredient in the NT church. Specifically, elders are mentioned almost 100 times in the NT alone, often in the context of establishing, overseeing and shepherding the church. This morning I'd like to consider the biblical need (and function) of an elder board as they are mandated in the Scriptures. The sermon is entitled, "The Good Shepherds."

Let's begin…

The words "shepherd" and "sheep" are mentioned over 300 times in the Scriptures. One reason is because these words described a common occupation in Palestine. Another reason is because these two words portrayed the relationship between God and His creatures. Allow me to illustrate:

They have no sense of direction and no means of protection. In order for them to be content they need rest, freedom from competition, all physical needs met and companionship. They are known for their mob instincts, fears, timidity and stubbornness. Who am I speaking of…sheep or humans? The answer is "yes!"

Is it any surprise that sheep are helpless without a shepherd? Is it any wonder that God describes people as sheep? Is it any wonder that the Bible repeatedly reminds humans of their need for a shepherd?

As a profession, shepherding was near the bottom of esteemed jobs in the first century. But, Jesus Christ, in all humility refers to Himself as a Shepherd. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of a loving Shepherd. He knows His sheep by name and willingly lays His life down for His flock. Jesus Christ is called the: "Good Shepherd" (Jn. 10:11), "Chief Shepherd" (1 Pet. 5:4), and "Great Shepherd" (Heb. 13:20). As the Shepherd of His flock (or the church), Christ nourishes us, cherishes us, rescues us, leads us, guards us, protects us, feeds us, and equips us to do His will.

And though Christ will never abdicate His role as the Great Shepherd of the church, He (through the Spirit) has appointed undershepherds to oversee His flock during His physical absence. Acts 20 says, "Be on guard for yourselves and for 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" (Ac. 20:28). What a humble calling for God's undershepherds! What a serious responsibility!

This morning we'll examine that responsibility under three headings that describe the shepherd's role over his Lord's flock: Leading the Flock, Feeding the Sheep, and Weeding the Wolves.

You may be wondering why I have chosen to preach on this topic? Since I am the only shepherd of the flock (and I remind you, one who is also a sheep in the Great Shepherd's flock), why don't I simply preach to myself? Why burden the rest of the church with information that appears to have no relevance for them? Let me provide a few reasons. First of all, you as a sheep, have a responsibility to the undershepherd. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, "But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work." Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." Second , we need the Lord to raise up men from within this flock to this office. Are we a New Testament church? Right now we have one elder, but did you know that the word "elder" in the New Testament is always plural? The model New Testament church consists of a plurality of elders. It should be our desire to strive toward that goal. Third , regardless of who we are, we all have a need to apply the biblical exhortations given to elders. To a degree all of you have a need to lead and teach others in the church and in the home. All of you have a need to protect yourself and your family from error and false teaching. All of you, whether the Holy Spirit is calling you to the office of elder/deacon or not, have a responsibility to abide by the character qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

1. FEEDING THE SHEEP

Let's begin with our first responsibility of an elder, "Feeding the Sheep."

Sheep, although they spend most of their time eating and drinking, are indiscriminate about what they consume. They don't know the difference between poisonous and nonpoisonous plants. They will not willingly move on to new pastures, even if only dirt remains on the old. They must be driven to the proper water sources, and unlike most animals, sheep cannot smell water from a distance.

The shepherd must therefore carefully monitor the sheep's diet. He must lead them to green pastures and beside quiet waters. The good shepherd doesn't allow his sheep to wander. Rather he instructs and he feeds His flock the proper source of nourishment for growth and sustenance.

Likewise, the spiritual shepherd of the church must feed his sheep a balanced diet from the Scriptures. Charles Jefferson said, "When a minister goes into the pulpit, he is the shepherd in the act of feeding, and if every minister had borne this in mind, many a sermon would have been other than it has been. The curse of the pulpit is the superstition that a sermon is a work of art and not a piece of bread or meat." John MacArthur remarked, "To say someone is a shepherd who cannot effectively preach is a contradiction." In a day and age when so many are concerned with what enters their body, it amazes me that those same individuals can settle for "junk food" from the pulpit every Sunday. Then we wonder why the church has failed to grow and the people remain immature in their faith. For the Scriptures are the only words that are given from the Great Shepherd Himself. Therefore those words are the only words that will produce spiritual growth to satisfy the hunger of the flock. The undershepherd must be committed to feeding his flock with regular faithful exposition from the Scriptures.

Acts 20:17-21 says, "And from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, 'You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house , solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.'"

Leaders, commonly called elders, shepherds, pastors, bishops or overseers, were established in all the churches that Paul planted. In the account just mentioned, Paul had one final opportunity to instruct and encourage the men shepherding the Ephesian church. He immediately identified himself as a servant of the Lord in verse 19. Literally, he viewed himself as the Lord's bondslave. Though a leader, he served God and not himself. As a servant he obeyed the marching orders from his Lord, knowing that one day he would have to give full account for the ministry entrusted to his care (Heb. 13:17). Paul knew that as a servant his opinions and notions were meaningless. What mattered was clearly articulating what His Master had commanded as a faithful ambassador and herald. He knew that the power of the Holy Spirit was only available through using the Book He spent thousands of years producing.

Therefore according to verse 20, Paul declared everything that was profitable. What is profitable? 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching…." As a trustworthy slave, Paul spoke God's Word, the Scriptures. He was a mouthpiece for his Master. He didn't spend all his time with politics, public relations, counseling or trite arguments, though at times there is a place for these. He taught the Word, not his word, but God's Word. That is the call of an elder! Elsewhere Paul said, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word ; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled , they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires ; and will turn away their ears from the truth , and will turn aside to myths " (2 Ti. 4:1-4).

Simply put, if an elder refuses to preach the Word, he is not qualified to shepherd the flock despite what the sheep with their itching ears think they want to hear. If he abuses the Word through misinterpretation, he must be corrected (Ac. 17:11). But if he speaks God's Word he is pleasing God, feeding His flock a healthy diet for spiritual growth. He is demonstrating his love and concern for God's sheep. "And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message , you accepted it not as the word of men , but for what it really is, the word of God , which also performs its work in you who believe" (1 Thes. 2:13).

Teaching God's Words and not his own is releasing for the shepherd because complaints without biblical representation are not directed toward the elder, but the Word that God has provided. Paul said, "Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you" (1 Thes 4:8). God will settle all accounts. In the meantime, the good shepherd must obey God and faithfully feed His flock from the Word.

Due to Paul's testimony of teaching the Word, both publicly and from house to house (vs. 20), he can boldly say in verse 26, "Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God" (Ac. 20:26-27). In other words, "I did not keep silent in fear of hiding something from you that might be beneficial. I sought to please God and not men. I remained faithful to my higher calling. You heard the Word without embarrassment over certain doctrines. What you reject will be your problem before God. As a faithful herald, my conscience is clear, I am innocent of the blood of all men."

Even in departing, Paul was concerned about the Word's influence in their lives. Verse 32, "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace , which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified". John Stott said, "He shared all possible truth with all possible people in all possible ways." And he did it without shame through the Word.

Is it not sad that many undershepherds fail to adequately feed their flock and allow their sheep to wander from one barren wasteland to another? Often this is either the result of a shepherd who fails to see his calling, or worse, one who compromises to every whim of the flock wishing to have their ears tickled. The tragic result is a weak, sickly flock, ready to eat the poisonous weeds of false doctrine or follow false shepherds who deceitfully promise them greener pastures.

In speaking through Ezekiel, God said, "Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost'" (Eze. 34:1-4).

I give you my word that this shepherd will remain faithful, by the grace of God, to always feed you from the Scriptures. If, God forbid, I ever compromise that calling, I would expect you to replace me with someone more appropriate. On the other side, I pray the time never comes when this flock ever desires the philosophy of the world and rejects the clear exhortation form the Word due to ignorance, embarrassment or discomfort.

2. LEADING THE FLOCK

Let's move to point number two, "Leading the Flock."

Sheep are innate followers and easily led astray. Due to their tendency to follow, slaughtering is made easy for the Rancher. They often select a castrated male sheep to lead the gullible sheep to the killing floor. Appropriately named, this male deceiver is called the "Judas" sheep.

Since sheep are so vulnerable and defenseless, the shepherd must diligently lead his sheep in the ways that are best for his beloved flock. To one extreme, a shepherd will need to break a sheep's leg to prevent it from running off. To the other extreme, the shepherd knows that sheep are humble and meek, so much so that if their spirit is crushed, they may simply give up and die. The good shepherd knows his sheep's individual temperaments and leads them appropriately, always for their good. Likewise, the spiritual shepherd never leads his flock with a heavy hand, but rather he leads through example and service as he seeks what is spiritually best though sometimes difficult for the individual in order to promote the glory of God.

Through Example

The good shepherd emulates Christ who went before His sheep. Christ led by example, modeling the appropriate behavior. Likewise, the good shepherd goes before his flock, he sets the direction, he gives a human example that supports what he teaches, and he represents the unseen Master. This spirit enabled Paul to exclaim, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).

Should it therefore surprise us that the biblical qualifications for a spiritual shepherd are not based on: talent/experience, strong/dynamic personality, popularity, friendliness, academic degrees, wealth, seniority or even great spiritual giftedness. Rather they are based on character and ability to handle the Word. The Scriptures place substance before style. Anything less is both unbiblical and dangerous. What you are is more important than what you do. "Bells/whistles" and "fancy footwork" don't produce a godly leader, nor do they produce ministries that are durable, lasting and fruitful. Alexander Struauch said, "If we want our churches to be spiritually fit, we must require our shepherd to be spiritually fit." Because as MacArthur commented, "What the leaders are, the people will become." God wants men who emulate the Christian walk, ones who can provide an example for what they teach, ones whose lives don't contradict or undo the message proclaimed. Paul lived such a life. Our elders must do the same.

Paul said, "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God" (Ac. 20:22-24). Who wouldn't follow a leader like that? Paul was an example of godliness to the flock, even if it meant forfeiting his life.

In addition to their example, Biblical shepherds also lead through service.

Through Service

1 Peter 5:1-4, "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge , but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

Usually the shepherd who lords it over his flock does not care for the sheep, but really cares for his own agenda. Rather the gentle shepherd desires to give others a chance for ministry, trusts God and does not see himself as the solution to all the problems. He must be patient, kind and humble, not heavy-handed, domineering or dictating. He must follow the Lord Jesus who "did not come to be served, but came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45). If Jesus, the greatest leader of all-time, was willing to be a servant, so should he. Servant leadership portrays an attitude that is willing to sacrifice one's own comfort, even one's own well-being, for those whom he leads.

Paul said in Acts 20:33-35, "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Leading a flock, serving the sheep, is a difficult, if not a heart wrenching matter. Your life is conducted in a fishbowl where there is never a detachment from the ministry. Satan tries harder than ever to see you fail. The flesh ponders greener pastures in other professions elsewhere. The pressures, problems and needs of the sheep continually burden the heart. The body is spent emotionally, physically and spiritually around the clock.

Leading the flock through service is difficult especially when those you pray for, seek to minister to and love are often the ones who hurt you the most. It happened to Jesus through denial, desertion, and betrayal. It also happened to Paul. That poor man, after being beaten for the gospel, exclaimed in his most desperate hour before execution in a filthy rat-infested prison, "All (have) deserted me" (2 Tim. 4:16).

What enables the shepherd to continue? We can learn from the urgency of Paul, "I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16). Every shepherd sees his calling from God and the need to remain faithful to his Master despite the circumstances. A shepherd's calling enables him to press on in leadership in spite of the hardships and heartaches, toil and sleepless nights, expectations and accusations, because he is serving the sheep by ultimately serving a great God in the process.

The faithful shepherd must feed the sheep, lead the flock and finally weed the wolves.

3. WEEDING THE WOLVES

On their own, sheep are almost completely defenseless. They cannot bite, scratch, kick, jump, run or fly. When attacked by a predator, they would rather huddle together than run away. We have already observed how the sheep are prone to follow the enemy.

The shepherd is always on the lookout for danger. Vigilance is a cardinal virtue. He must be prepared for encounters with wild beasts such as bears, lions and wolves. He must keep a constant vigil for human wolves as well, who come in the form of robbers and bandits.

Likewise, the shepherd of the church must continually be on the lookout for spiritual dangers such as heresies, known temptations and excessive worldly input. He must protect God's flock from error and anything that will lead the church away from its pure and simple devotion to Christ… anything that will shipwreck the faith of his sheep.

Paul said in Acts 20:28-31, " Be on guard for yourselves and for 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. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock ; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears."

Perils From Self

Initially, in Acts 20, Paul warns of the perils from self. Verse 28, "Be on guard for yourself…keep watch over yourself." Interestingly, it's one of the few times in Scripture people are told to care for themselves first. Why? Because an elder needs to be an example. His life must be right before he can care for the flock of God. Woe to the elder who thinks he is above sin and temptation. Pride always comes before the fall.

Perils From Without

Once they are right before God, elders must be under constant vigilance for destructive wolves from outside the flock. Paul said in verse 29, "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." These false teachers, like wolves, are predators from without who attack the flock and slaughter the sheep. Anytime the truth is proclaimed and the kingdom of darkness is encroached, Satan is bound to counter attack. The New Testament Scriptures repeatedly speak of false teachers and their destructive heresies. From these, the shepherd must continually guard his flock.

Perils From Within

Even more subtle than those who attack from without are the false teachers who arise from within the flock. Verse 30 says, "And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." Whether the shepherd realizes it or not, these wolves, cleverly disguised as sheep, sow seeds of error, discourse and divisiveness, which destroy the purity of Christ's precious bride.

One author said, "Many a minister fails as a pastor because he is not vigilant. He allows his church to be torn to pieces because he is half asleep. He took it for granted that there were no wolves, no birds of prey, no robbers, and while he was drowsing the enemy arrived. False ideas, destructive interpretations, demoralizing teachings came into his group, and he never knew it. He was interested, perhaps, in literary research; he was absorbed in the discussion contained in the last theological quarterly, and did not know what his young people were reading, or what strange ideas had been lodged in the heads of a group of his leading members. There are errors which are as fierce as wolves and pitiless as hyenas; they tear faith and hope and love to pieces and leave churches, once prosperous, mangled and half dead."

What was Paul's overall purpose in Acts 20? He wanted to direct the Ephesian elders by encouraging them to follow his example. May our shepherds do the same. May we have qualified spiritual shepherds, called by the Holy Spirit who, teach the sheep , lead the flock and weed the wolves.

"Make him a minister of the Word!… Fling him into his office, tear the office sign from the door and nail on the sign: 'Study.' Take him off the mailing list; lock him up with his books… and his typewriter and his Bible. Slam him down on his knees before texts, broken hearts, the flippant lives of a superficial flock, and the Holy God. Force him to be the one man in our surfeited communities who knows about God. Throw him into the ring to box with God till he learns how short his arms are; engage him to wrestle with God all the night through. Let him come out only when he is bruised and beaten into being a blessing. Set a time clock on him that will imprison him with thought and writing about God for 40 hours a week. Shut his garrulous mouth forever spouting "remarks" and stop his tongue always tripping lightly over everything non-essential. Require him to have something to say before he dare break silence. Bend his knees in the lonesome valley, fire him from the PTA and cancel his country club membership; burn his eyes with weary study, wreck his emotional poise with worry for God, and make him exchange his pious stance for a humble walk with God and man. Make him spend and be spent for the glory of God…. Rip out his telephone, burn up his ecclesiastical success sheets, refuse his glad hand, and put water in the gas tank of his community buggy. Give him a Bible and tie him in his pulpit and make him preach the Word of the Living God. Test him, quiz him and examine him; humiliate him for his ignorance of things divine, and shame him for his glib comprehension of finances, batting averages, and political in fighting. Laugh at his frustrated effort to play psychiatrist, scorn his insipid morality, refuse his supine intelligence, ignore his broadmindedness, which is only flatheadedness, and compel him to be a minister of the Word. If he wants to be gracious, challenge him rather to be a product of the rough grace of God. If he dotes on being pleasing, demand that he please God and not man… Form a choir and raise a chant and haunt him with it night and day: "Sir we wish to see Jesus." When, at long last, he dares assay the pulpit, ask him if he has a word from God: if he does not, then dismiss him and tell him you can read the morning paper, digest the television commentaries, think through the day's superficial problems, manage the community's myriad drives, and bless assorted baked potatoes and green beans ad infinitum better than he can. Command him not to come back until he has read and re-read, written and re-written, until he can stand up, worn and forlorn, and say: 'Thus saith the Lord.'… Let him be totally ignorant of the down-street gossip, but give him a chapter and order him to walk around it, camp on it, suffer with it, and come at last to speak it backwards and forwards until all he says about it rings with the truth of eternity."

That's the kind of men we need the Lord to give us as elders of this church. That's the kind of man I am seeking to be. I pray that's the kind of man you are looking for.