May 28, 2016

Offering Thought: A Plan to be Debt-Free

A. Plans are needed to achieve a goal
Proverbs 12:5
The thoughts of the
righteous are right: but the counsels of the
wicked are deceit.

Proverbs 12:5
The plans of the
righteous are right: but the advice of the
wicked is deceitful.

Proverbs 14:12
Do they not err that devise evil? but
mercy and truth shall be to them that
devise good.

Proverbs 14:12
Do not those who plan evil go astray? But
those who plan what is good find love and
faithfulness.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and
your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and
thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to
plenteousness; but of every one that
is hasty only to want.

Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as
surely as haste leads to poverty.

B. When Paul made a decision, it was a spiritual thing, not an intellectual thing
Acts 19:21

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit,

when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to
Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see
Rome.
C. A plan to be debt-free begins as a spiritual process, not an intellectual process
2 Kings 19:14

And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the

messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the
house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

Main Sermon
Acts 20:17-38
17

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and

called the elders of the church.

27

18

28

And when they were come to him, he said

unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I
came into Asia, after what manner I have
been with you at all seasons,

For I have not shunned to declare unto

you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood.

19

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind,

and with many tears, and temptations,
which befell me by the lying in wait of the
Jews:
20

[And] how I kept back nothing that was

profitable [unto you], but have shewed you,
and have taught you publicly, and from
house to house,

29

For I know this, that after my departing

shall grievous wolves enter in among you,
not sparing the flock.
30

Also of your own selves shall men arise,

speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them.
31

21

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the

Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore watch, and remember, that by

the space of three years I ceased not to
warn every one night and day with tears.
32

22

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit

unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that
shall befall me there:

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.

23

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in

every city, saying that bonds and afflictions
abide me.

33

24

34

But none of these things move me,

neither count 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 Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace
of God.
25

And now, behold, I know that ye all,

among whom I have gone preaching the
kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or

apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands
have ministered unto my necessities, and to
them that were with me.
35

I have shewed you all things, how that so

labouring ye ought to support the weak, and
to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than
to receive.
36

26

Wherefore I take you to record this day,

that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled

down, and prayed with them all.

37

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's

neck, and kissed him,

38

Sorrowing most of all for the words which

he spake, that they should see his face no
more. And they accompanied him unto the
ship.

Thought #01: The Elders Called For

A. Paul sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus
Acts 20:17-18
Acts 20:37-21:1
B. The elders of the church of Ephesus

Ephesians 4:10-12
10

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far

above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The elders are the pastoral staff of the church.

What elders do:
1. Acts 20:28 shepherds, to guide

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his
own blood.
2. 1 Peter 5:1-2 oversees the flock, keep watch
1

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an

elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a
partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the

oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3. 1 Tim 5:17 direct the affairs of the church

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double

honour, especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.
4. 1 Peter 5:1-2 preach & teach

Thought #02: What the elders knew about Paul

A.)
Leaders are to be known
Acts 20:17-21
17

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus,

and called the elders of the church.

temptations, which befell me by the lying

in wait of the Jews:

18

20

And when they were come to him, he

said unto them, Ye know, from the first
day that I came into Asia, after what
manner I have been with you at all
seasons,

[And] how I kept back nothing that was

profitable [unto you], but have shewed
you, and have taught you publicly, and
from house to house,
21

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to

the Greeks, repentance toward God, and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

19

Serving the Lord with all humility of

mind, and with many tears, and

2 Tim 3:10-14
0

But thou hast fully known my doctrine,

manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience,

13

11

14

Persecutions, afflictions, which came

unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at
Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but
out of [them] all the Lord delivered me.
12

Yea, and all that will live godly in

Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But evil men and seducers shall wax

worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned [them];

B.)
What these leaders knew about Paul
1. Acts 20:18 they knew the consistency of live that Paul live
2. There is a pattern on how to be a Christian
Philippians 3:17

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them

which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
2 Tim 3:10

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life,

purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Acts 20:19-20
19

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many
tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait
of the Jews:
20

[And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto

you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly,
and from house to house,

Paul as a slave to Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 9:19

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself
servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Romans 1:1

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, calledto be an apostle,

separated unto the gospel of God,
Philippians 1:1

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all

the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons:
Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please

men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant
of Christ.

Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging
of the truth which is after godliness;

Humility to value yourself appropriately; not putting yourself down