Watch Out
“So guard yourselves and God’s people.
Feed and shepherd God’s flock—
his church,
purchased with his own blood
over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
I know that false teachers,
like vicious wolves,
will come in among you after I leave,
not sparing the flock.
Even some men from your own group will rise up
and distort the truth
in order to draw a following.
Watch out!
Remember the three years I was with you—
my constant watch
and care over you night and day,
and my many tears for you.
Remember we are analyzing Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders with whom he has spent from two to three years teaching them, and training them to pastor the flock – the church that has grown in the time Paul has been with them. Normally Paul spent a short time in one place and then moved on. But here in Ephesus, Paul has stayed put in one place for a longer period of time. We are pulling together all the pieces of evidence in the Bible to help us understand the relationship Paul has with these people. We have read Acts in conjunction with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in order to get a better understanding of the connection. I promised you (some time ago) that I would give you a summary of Ephesians to help you with that book when we have looked at the meeting with the Ephesian elders. That is coming soon.
Realize there is another connection that I haven’t drawn your attention to yet. That’s found in the book of Revelation.
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favour: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:1-7
This gives you yet another insight into Paul and the connection to the Ephesian church as well the unfolding story of the life and response of the Ephesian church. Look at the excerpt from Revelation above and make connections to the church in Ephesus and to the speech we are analyzing now.
What do you find?
See what connections you can make between these passages, especially the passage from Revelation. Be a Bible sleuth and develop your abilities to become a CSU Investigator. Input in the next Gem.
Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt
A person’s outburst of emotion and anger when you tell you who you are in an pressured unguarded moment, speaks more about who they are than who you are.
Ian Vail
Always give without remembering and receive without forgetting.
Anon
If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.
Vincent Van Gogh
If someone tells them you can’t understand the Bible, prove them wrong. The depth and the treasures in the Bible are beyond belief.
Ian Vail