Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee

Acts 20.1-38

What’s on your bucket list? Some want to travel the world; maybe swim with dolphins. For others, it’s bungee jumping. Some have career goals - like writing a book. Some want a life change - like emigrating. We all have some plans before we kick the bucket. But if you only had a year left, what would you do? Some would spend remaining time with family and friends. They’d settle their finances and personal affairs - like write a will or get right spiritually. But others would do what they’ve always done. DL Moody was asked what he’d do today if he died tomorrow. He said he’d get up, pray, read the Bible, then visit a sick member. Later, he’d prepare his message and sleep at night. He was already doing his duty - giving his best to Christ. This was also Paul’s example. Last week we learned Paul was heading to Rome. He knew he’d suffer many things and die for Christ. So how was he living in light of that? He consecrated his life to God. There are three ways did this. Firstly, he consecrated his life to teach and encourage others. Secondly, he consecrated his life to love Christ and his people. Thirdly, he consecrated his life to protect the church of Christ.

Firstly, he consecrated his life to teach and encourage others. He said in Acts 20:22-23 - “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” Paul was led by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. He didn’t know what would happen, except he’d suffer in every city. It was a bleak future. And he knew this before he set off - even before the big riot in Ephesus. But what did he do despite this news? He traveled extensively to encourage and mentor. He obeyed. He went to Jerusalem through Macedonia and Achaia. This was his bucket list. But the route was complex. He traveled across to Macedonia - the region of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. And there, verse 2 says, he gave them much exhortation - he encouraged. The word is “parakaleo” - comfort - like the Holy Spirit’s work. Then he went to Greece for 3 months, likely teaching in Corinth and Athens. We know this because in verse 3, when he was about to set sail to Syria, the Jews wanted to ambush him. Why would they do this unless he taught? So he backtracked to Macedonia and eventually to Troas. Verse 7 says he preached and verse 12 says they were not a little comforted. Meaning, they were very encouraged - same word as verse 2. Despite his bleak future, he encouraged others. And his teaching bore fruit. Verse 4 mentions companions. “And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.” These people followed him from cities in Ephesus, Galatia, and Macedonia. They show Paul was busy mentoring. They weren’t only converts, but mature Christians leaving comforts behind to serve God. They knew how difficult it’d be, but they went. And this shows that churches were maturing. They relinquished these men to be missionaries, cooperating and working with other churches Presbyterian style.

He also taught intensively. In verse 6, Paul came to Troas and stayed 7 days. Verse 7 - “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” He joined the Lord’s Day worship and the Lord’s Supper. Because he of his bleak future, he valued every opportunity to worship and the fellowship of God’s people. We learn he preached from morning until midnight. Why? Well, he was leaving the next day and likely wouldn’t ever see them again. So he wanted to impart all things. Now, during this journey to Macedonia, Paul wrote Romans and 2 Corinthians. So he the theology was fresh in his ind. He imparted the doctrine of justification, sanctification, election, etc. He dialogued with them. It says he preached to them. The word is dialegos - the same word in Acts 19 when Paul dialogued in the synagogue. While he was met with unbelief there, he was met with eagerness here. Verse 11 says he “talked a long while.” The word is homileo where we get homiletics. It was not just teaching, but application. Verses 8-9 describe that his teaching was so long, that a young teen named Eutychus, fell from the 3rd floor, after he fell asleep by the window. He died. Now, was it Paul’s teaching? Yes and no. Add to the whole day and night teaching, a packed room, with oil lamps burning off all the oxygen. It’s no surprise the boy sat by the window for air. But thank God Paul was there. As an apostle, he healed Eutychus. But notice in verse 11 what happened after the healing - he continued to preach until morning! Paul had much more to teach as his time was short. Can you take a 24 hour church camp straight? He taught 24 hours straight to encourage; and he gave life to a dead boy, all knowing that such preaching would lead to his own suffering and death.

What’s more amazing is this - he encouraged selflessly. At a time when he was discouraged. Acts doesn’t say much about his emotional state, but 2 Corinthians 1:8 does - “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 says it was so tough he had no peace - “When I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, but I had no rest in my spirit.” In his distress, suffering, and discouragement, when he needed encouragement the most, he spent all to teach and encouraged others. He didn’t know how long more he had. He went quickly from place to place. We see this in verses 13-16. He was at Assos, then Mitylene, then Chios, Samos, Trogyllium, and then Miletus. This characterized his ministry.

But secondly we see why he did it - his motivation. He loved them in Christ. At Miletus, he called for the elders who were at Ephesus, verse 17. That was a 75 kilometers or 4 days journey. Even at this stage of his ministry in going to Jerusalem, the place of suffering, he thought of them. When they came, Paul revealed his love for them. He loved them by his labor. Verse 18 says, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.” His labor in Ephesus was well-known. Verses 20-21 say he kept back nothing that was profitable from them. He revealed all, teaching publicly from house to house. From the get go, he taught boldly - repent and believe! Put aside your idols! Trust and love Christ! Whatever was profitable he imparted. Verse 27 says he declared the whole counsel of God. He didn’t only teach his hobby horses - but the whole counsel. You know, preachers can fixate on only one topic. Sometimes churches are fixated on only one thing - TULIP, evangelism, Christian liberty, Bible versions - but Paul taught all. He didn’t only have a one point sermon. So his loving labor consisted of comprehensive teaching. But it consisted of extensive teaching. He did public proclamation - in worship services and street corners, but also privately from house to house - Bible study and counseling. And his labor was affectionate. Verse 31 says he warned everyone day and night with tears for 3 years. He didn’t only preach grace and mercy, he admonished them not to sin.

But he also loved them with his life. In verse 18, he said they knew his life for 3 years. He put many demands on them to grow, but he also put demands on himself. Verses 33-35 - “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. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring 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.” As you recall, Paul worked as a tentmaker in Corinth to support himself. Once he received support from Macedonia, he stopped working. It was the same in Ephesus - he worked. Why? He worked to give to others. He denied himself support from a young church. He worked to be an example to others; to teach that it was more blessed to give than to receive. This was also Christ’s example. And this was painful for Paul. He sacrificed much for the church in the midst of opposition. Verse 19 says, “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.” The Jews tried to test him - trick him. He was on constant alert.

But the reason why he labored and suffered as he did was because he loved Christ. He was willing to be led by Christ’s Spirit to Jerusalem. His love was manifested in being willing to die and suffer for Christ. Verse 24 - “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.” His life was not important to him - neither his reputation. He was willing to walk this path of the cross. His bucket list was to spend and be spent for the Christ he loved. The word “serving the Lord” in verse 19 is literally slaving for God. He was a bond-slave - freed by his master but remained with him voluntarily, out of love, to be a slave for life. His life was not dear to him.

Now, why Paul taught and encouraged as extensively, intensively, and selflessly as he did? Yes, it’s because he loved Christ and Christ’s people with his labor and life. But also because of the dangers that would come in. That’s the third point. He consecrated his life to protect the church of Christ. Here in Miletus, he gave urgent instructions because of the danger to the church. As these elders would hold the fort, he told them to labor to feed the church, verse 28. He told them to love the weak by supporting them by following Christ’s words and example, verse 35. And he told them in verse 31 to watch for dangerous people. All this tells us that the church is important. It was the flock purchased by God’s blood, verse 28. The church was important to Paul. He wanted to strengthen and protect her. And the church was in danger. Verses 29-30 say that after his departure, the church will be attacked from inside and outside. There would be wolves who would enter the church. They won’t love the church - they’ll attack the flock - not sparing them. This could be false doctrine. But also, the elders themselves may destroy the church. Verse 30 - “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” They would draw people to themselves - they’d want preeminence. And it happened. Years later, Paul wrote to Timothy from prison. Timothy was now the pastor of Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 1:19-20 he advised him to be faithful and to have a clear conscience. Why? Some had deliberately violated their conscience and destroyed their faith. 2 in particular - Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul excommunicated them. Those two could’ve been present at Miletus, when Paul cried. They became what he warned them against.

This is why in verse 28, he told them to pay careful attention to themselves. They were not merely to consecrate themselves to teach and exhort, to love, or to protect the church, but they were to protect themselves. Verse 32 - “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.” If they were not walking with Christ, according to the word, and paying attention to the inner man - meaning, consecrated to Christ - they would fall and destroy the church. So much did Paul love the church, he taught, exhorted, demonstrated, mentored, imparted, and warned the church. This is how he spent last days. Of course, he didn’t know how much longer he would live. But this was his bucket list.

What are some applications for us? I think clearly for those of you who are nearing the end - what’s on your bucket list? It’s not to say that travel, career, and other pursuits are wrong. But how much does love for Christ and his kingdom feature in it? What aspirations do you have for Christ’s kingdom? As we come to the table of the Lord, did not our Lord say that he would not drink of the vine until he’d drink it us in his kingdom? Do we not look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb? Therefore, is not desire for his kingdom the thing that drives your remaining years? What are you wasting, expending, spending your lives on? What are those in the prime of our lives doing - when anything can rob us of our youth? Cancer, calamity, Covid? What are we consecrating our lives for? Who and how are you teaching and encouraging? How are you loving Christ and his people? In what way are you demonstrating urgency for the kingdom?

And as we look at the Apostle Paul’s life, we can’t help but see the life of Christ. After all, it was Christ who called Paul to follow in his footsteps. After his Great Galilean ministry, when many turned away from following him, Christ focused on the training of his twelve disciples. He imparted as much as he could to them - but they were slow to learn. They continued to contend who would be first. Even at the Last Supper, no one lifted a finger to wash his feet - but he knelt down to scrub the feet of his disciples. He assured them of the comfort of the Spirit. When he spoke about his death and betrayal, and when Judas responded disingenuously, Jesus even gave him bread dipped in gravy - a gesture of kindness. And there between Jerusalem and Gethsemane, Jesus knelt down and prayed for his disciples - that they would be one. When his time was almost up on earth, he spent it on his disciples. And at the very moment when he needed their help - even his closest friends would not watch and pray with him. He gave and never received - so that we, having received all from him, can give to one another. He consecrated his life for us - why should we servants be greater? Shall we not consecrate ours for him? We come to proclaim our allegiance to him in the Supper, even as he demonstrated his death in it.

1. He Consecrated His Life to Teach and Encourage Others

A. He encouraged and mentored extensively

B. He taught intensively

C. He encouraged selflessly

2. He Consecrated His Life to Love Christ and His People

A. He loved them with his labor

B. He loved them with his life

C. He loved them because he loved Christ

3. He Consecrated His Life to Protect the Church of Christ

A. The danger to the church from outside

B. The danger to the church from inside

C. The danger of not consecrating oneself