The High Call & Crucial Need for Godly Elders – Part II

(If you haven’t read Part I, it would be best that you do so before you continue with this article. You can find it here: https://www.kingdomstreams.net/post/the-high-call-crucial-need-for-godly-elders-part-i).

As I sit here pondering and waiting for how to begin Part II, it seems prudent to begin by hopefully agreeing that there is no role in Christ’s church more important than that of the elder or overseer. This is why when Paul reached Miletus he called for the elders of the church in Ephesus to come to him (Acts 20:17). These are the men who would decide more than any other whether the church in Ephesus would grow and thrive and accomplish its God given purpose and mission….or not.

They evidently were more than happy to take the day long trip on a boat to see Paul. Their affection for him was quite evident (see vs. 37,38) even after he strongly exhorted them to live and minister according to the high call on their lives.

So what was that high call?  Well as we look at it in Acts chapter 20 it will consist of two things: First various aspects of Paul’s example. And second, specific commands and warnings re: the fulfilling of their calling.

Let’s look first at Paul’s example. And as we dive into this, I want to start by looking at nine things Paul did to or for them in those three years he lived with and ministered to them in Ephesus. He reminded them of these things so that his example would be in the forefront of their minds as they returned to Ephesus to walk out their role as elders.

First please note – he was “with them the whole time” (vs. 18). Paul didn’t live in a remote protected area outside of the city. He lived, shopped and walked among them. He didn’t just show up on Sunday mornings and perhaps Sunday and Wednesday evenings. He was with them every Spirit led chance he had. A true elder/overseer of Christ’s church will never be content with just showing up in scheduled meetings. Rather he will greatly value living life with those he has been called to lead. Theologians call this incarnation. Jesus of course modeled this first.

Second, he “served the Lord” (vs. 19). Paul layed his life down for the Ephesians as a daily response to His relationship with Christ. Everything he did for them and to them was out of his obedience to the Lord and his desire to please the Lord. He wasn’t merely fulfilling a job description or a church role or position. His every word and action was in response to what He sensed the Lord wanted from him on any given day. His overall effectiveness and ability to endure  intense suffering and hardships was due to his conviction that His Lord and Master was worthy of such.

Third, he declared to them anything and everything that was profitable without any shrinking or minimizing or watering down of truth that might have made some uncomfortable or that might have offended some (vs. 20).

Fourth, he taught them “….publicly and from house to house.” Paul was very concerned that each of the Ephesians be firmly grounded in truth. And he took every opportunity whether in scheduled church meetings or when he visited people or shared a meal with people in their homes to teach them concerning Christ and His glorious kingdom. He certainly did not depend solely on organized meetings in the church buildings to equip the saints.

Fifth, Paul didn’t stop with declaring and teaching truth. He expected a result called repentance. He wasn’t satisfied with someone saying, “Hey Paul that was a good sermon.” Rather he could be found “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Testifying could have included but wasn’t limited to examples from his own life or the lives of others they could relate to about how they changed their attitudes and lifestyles in response to the word of the Lord.

Sixth, Paul “preached the kingdom” to all of them (vs. 25). He wanted everyone to know the King and to enter and enjoy His kingdom. He wanted them to know there was a wonderful alternative to the “domain of darkness” that all of them were enslaved in until Christ delivered them. Please note he did not preach how wonderful his particular church was but rather how wonderful the kingdom of God was. Elders need to see the kingdom and seek it first and preach it first not the “success” of their church.

Seventh, Paul “…declared to (them) the whole purpose of God.” (vs. 27). This is very similar to the third thing above that Paul practiced.  As in vs. 20 Paul emphasized in vs. 27 that he did not “shrink” from this practice – even though some aspects of the purpose of God were probably offensive to Ephesian culture and popular religion. For instance Paul declared the whole purpose of God in marriage (as can be seen best in Ephesians 5:22-33) even though it meant some who had been divorced might be offended, some who championed women’s rights might not like the principle of submission or subjection to one’s husband, some who championed gay rights might be offended, etc.  Obviously some leaders in the church did shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God to avoid persecution and offending folk or Paul wouldn’t have made clear that he did not shrink.

Eighth, Paul “admonished each one with tears” (vs. 31). He was just as comfortable or better just as obedient to minister to an individual as he was to the crowds or to groups.  He knew people and he knew where they needed specific and personal admonishing to get to a higher level of sanctification and righteousness. His admonishing did not come with severity but rather with earnestness demonstrated by Paul’s tears.

Finally Paul ministered to his own needs with his own hands (vs. 34, 35). That is - he worked hard in his tent making trade to make sure he not only could provide for his own needs but also to be able to give to others. He was no stranger to hard work and did not feel he was above such.

It is also instructive to note the things Paul says he didn’t do or refused to do in this passage. I’m going to touch on four or five. First as we already briefly touched on twice he says he “…did not shrink” in vs. 20 from declaring and teaching them; and then in vs. 27 from “declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”  The pressure to skip over difficult topics or water down the truth of Scripture was as intense then as it is today. Whether it be the reality of the depravity and unrighteousness of all men; Jesus as the only Way; the authority and inspiration of Scripture; God’s covenant love for and commitment to fulfill His promises for Israel; God’s will and way for the two genders He created; etc., etc., - the temptation to keep peeps happy and to keep up church attendance by avoiding these difficult topics is always present.

The second thing Paul did not do was as he testified in vs. 24, “…I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself..”. And the reason he didn’t was “…so 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.” Paul took Jesus at His word, when He said to would be followers, “..If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23). Pre-occupation or consideration of one’s self, self preservation, self vindication, self righteousness, self reliance is ultimately self sabotage when it comes to finishing the course our Savior has given us to finish and finishing well. God help us !!

The third thing Paul did not do was he “did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” I suppose there are many reasons for why Paul had this passion to see every person he ever had access to to be made “….complete in Christ.” (see Colossians 2:28). One is he knew what would happen to them per the above paragraph if they weren’t delivered from self. Second he knew Christ was passionate about their maturity in Christ, not just getting them into heaven or into membership in a local congregation. I must move on.

Finally a fourth thing Paul refused to do was as he testified in vs. 33, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes.” Paul was so ruthless with killing sin and walking in holiness in his life that he never gave opportunity in his inner being to long for what someone else had, whether it be a wife, a home and career that didn’t entice people to persecute him wherever he went, material things, money, investments, his own boat, his own horse, vacations in a safe remote resort, etc. He knew how deadly such desires are to one’s intimacy with and usefulness for God.

So with that example in mind, what specifically did Paul exhort these elders to be and do? Well first he exhorted them to “Be on guard for yourselves…” vs. 28. Paul was very concerned about the welfare of the sheep entrusted to these elders, but he knew unless they gave appropriate attention to themselves – to their own growth in godliness and holiness – they would be of little use to the sheep. Perhaps in this command he also expected these elders to be on guard for one another – again knowing if they allowed their own growth to slip, they could not adequately and effectively shepherd the sheep. Before Jesus exhorted His disciples to deal with the sins of those following them, He commanded, “Take heed to yourselves!...” (literal translation of Luke 17:3). It is the log and splinter principle from Matthew 7:3-5.

Trusting that they will put first things first, Paul then exhorted, “Be on guard….for all the flock….” Reminding them that it was the Holy Spirit who had made them overseers (it wasn’t their doing or the decision of the pastor); and reminding them that their primary job as overseers was to “…shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (vs. 28).  Every one of these sheep are precious in the sight of God. They came with a heavy price. They belong to God. He bought them and placed them in His church.

Paul followed this exhortation with a sobering reality followed by his resulting next exhortation: “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.” (vs. 29,30). Based on this reality he then exhorted, “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.” (vs. 31). The apostle knew the people God had entrusted to him very well. He expected any elders of Christ’s church to do the same. Getting them saved and getting them to become members of one’s congregation only puts a big target on their back. They will face many challenges from their own sinful flesh; from their past; from the evil one and his demons; from the evil world system they are to live in but not be of; from tares in the church; from false apostles, prophets, teachers, etc., and from self willed “shepherds”. Elders/overseers/shepherds of Christ’s church/sheep must be vigilant, which starts with faithful intercession for them and then developing systems by the leading and anointing of the Holy Spirit that keep these sheep from falling through the cracks or falling prey to any of the dangers mentioned above.

One of the great challenges we elders/shepherds face is that of caring for Christ’s sheep when they are battling sickness and disease. I’m enclosing an article below that is focused on that aspect of our calling. God bless you and please pray for the elders of Christ’s church in your city. https://www.kingdomstreams.net/post/danny-s-blog-part-vi-shepherding-and-healing-the-sheep

One final thought – If you felt a bit overwhelmed or inadequate or even hopeless after reading these two posts re: this high call for elders you are in good company. My sense is the Ephesian elders were feeling that way and thus Paul towards the end of his address pointed them to where our hope must lie, “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.” (vs. 32). God would not give us such a high call or high standard if He did not fully intend to equip us to fulfill it.