 Good morning everyone and thank you for connecting on this call as we continue to learn from the Book of Acts. We've been observing the growth of the church, the movement of the church, the impact of the church and particularly we've also looked at the life of a man known as Apostle Paul who began his missionary journeys along with others and right now we are at a place where we have seen him go through the first initial two journeys. He's on his third journey now and he's heading towards Jerusalem. So we understood in the last class that he took some time to speak to the Ephesian elders and he strengthened them in God knowing that he may never see them ever again. So that's where we were at in Acts chapter 20. We will pray. I'll go back to that same passage and begin to explain. I request one of us on the call to go ahead and lead in prayer. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you under the name of Jesus. We thank you for this day. We thank you for the class we're about to have. But we just pray that you'll help us to remember everything that we learned from the previous class as we are learning about how supernatural and how amazing all your works and how much we can do as believers as a church God. I just pray that you will guide us. You will help us to open our mind and heart and listen to it and not just listen but just apply it in our life Jesus so that we can be witnesses of you. So that we can stand as testimonies of your gospel God. So that we can preach the gospel much more boldly down here on this earth. We just give you all the glory and honor in Jesus' name, my friend. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Refina. So we were at Acts 20, a section where Paul is exorting the Ephesian elders. I'll come back to it. But before we read the key thoughts that Paul presented to encourage the elders, keep them going in God, strengthen them. We'll quickly have a look at the map once again. I think it's always helpful because then it orients you to what exactly is going on. Otherwise, there are way too many names and you may all get confused. So just going back to the map quickly. Yes, there you go. This is the third missionary journey. And if you can recall, it began in Antioch. They went in the upper region or the Galatia region. And then, you know, they continued on to throw us for a short while. They kind of came to Ephesus, but he didn't really stay there. He sent others and then he went on to us. And we saw that he spent more time in the Macedonian region than of course Kea. And then, you know, came back. He came back all the way. Now on the way back is where we... Oh, sorry. This is a third missionary journey, right? So he spent a lot of time in Ephesus. So initially the second missionary journey, when he was completing it, he had just stopped by in Ephesus. But in the third missionary journey, he spent a lot of time there. And while returning is when he doesn't want to go to Ephesus because of the opposition. That's when he calls the elders to come from Ephesus to a close by place known as Miletus. And this is where the whole speech or you may want to call it a sermon or a heart to heart talk to the elders of the Ephesian church is happening. And from there, he will continue on his journey. So we saw, you know, a couple of incidents earlier where we saw that when Paul was in Troas and he was preaching over there. There was a man who fell down and Paul was able to manifest the supernatural power of God in order to raise that man up. And he continued to minister there as well. And then, you know, the journey continued. And finally here he is in Ephesus. From Ephesus, as we read on and different names of places, just have a look because you will see these names again, Kos, Rhodes, Patara. Then you would see like Tyre and come to Caesarea and finally to Jerusalem. So just remember these names so that it kind of helps you know what exactly is going on. We are over here now, we are in Miletus. Okay, so now let's continue. Coming back to the talk that Paul had. We said that Paul encouraged them. He also showed them that he has led by example. That's why he said things like, you know, what manner I always lived among you. So it teaches us about the pattern of leadership. Leadership has got to do with the life example that one sets before the people. And so Paul led by example and Paul led from front. And he also talks about how he walked in humility. He walked in trials. He walked through a lot of challenges, which again is an encouragement for the leaders, knowing that if their leader or someone who has gone before them could face those things well, they too can face it. So that was one particular, one key subject that he touched upon. Then he also went on to talk about how he did the ministry faithfully. And so his responsibility, he has fulfilled. Now whether people have repented, whether they have accepted his message, that is totally dependent on them. But his part he has done that again shows us that as a leader, he fulfilled his responsibilities. And that's a great lesson for us to learn from him. He also suggests to them that this journey that he's making would lead him towards Jerusalem where he shares that he feels bound in the spirit, explaining that there are problems or there is some sort of a danger awaiting him in Jerusalem. So he is clear that he has, if you want to call it heard from God or has this impression from God about what is coming next. So he is being very vulnerable to the people and sharing with them about the fact that this may be the last time that he is going to meet them. And he also goes on to exhort them and he says that he's happy about serving God. He's happy about the way he has ministered so far. And he is happy that he's going to finish the race or he's going to finish the assignment. And then in the last class we were discussing a little bit about the way he describes this position of oversight or pastoral role or even the teaching role where he says things like it is the Holy Spirit who has made you overseers of the church. So the responsibility comes from the Holy Spirit or comes from God. It's not so much that we want to become and so we became leaders or we became elders over the flock of Jesus Christ. So responsibility, leadership comes from God. And then he also talks about how he ministered faithfully the whole Council of God. I think that's what we were talking about in the last session, the whole Council of God. And we said that one must be careful especially when it comes to the teaching ministry to ensure that they are dividing the word of God correctly. The right interpretation because that would lead to the application, the right application of the word of God in people's lives. So that again is a responsibility of a leader or a pastor. Now apart from this, Paul did make these statements warning the believers saying that he knows that once he has gone there will be, he uses the term savage wolves among you. So whom is he referring to? He's referring to people who probably had a selfish agenda among the believers itself. Now these people, their agenda was not to extend the kingdom of God or to fulfill the great commission or any godly intention. But their desire was to become, it was more like a selfish desire. And so he's giving them a prior warning and he's saying don't be surprised if you find such people in your midst and maybe even at the time when he was serving, he had some such people whom he observed. So he wanted the people to be very careful about how they would take care of their congregation and God's flock and to make sure that they preserved everything which was taught by him to the people. So he states look three years I was with you, I taught you, I warned you day and night. So basically what he's saying is he had done a good work and he had put some strong foundations for the people to build their lives on. Now he is charging the leaders and he's saying don't let this foundation be moved in any way. There will be people who will come in, now they can influence in various ways, they can bring in some wrong teaching, they can minister by a wrong spirit. These are matters that leaders or elders should be alert about and when they pick up that something like this is going on, they must protect the sheep or the congregation. So when it comes to leadership, we learn so many lessons here from Paul's life, lessons such as lead by example, lead from the front, go through difficulties with the brave spirit, demonstrate integrity, humility. We also see being vulnerable with the people as and when required in certain matters. He talks about the way he took on responsibility even sacrificially at times. He talks about how he preached the gospel and ensured that all men heard the gospel and he also talks about how faithfully he taught the people. He was careful to teach the whole council of God's word. He now charges the elders and believers and says, remember that responsibility of leadership has come from the Holy Spirit. You need to take care of the sheep, you need to protect them, especially in the case of false leaders, false prophets, apostles, teachers, all of them rising up among the brethren itself. So these were the key points that Paul focused on. So at this point that he had shared whatever was on his heart, he gives them into God's hands and he prays a prayer. In other words, it's more like the cry of his heart. He says, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. So he has now taught the people the word so well. So he's sure that the word will now guide them. He may not be there personally, but what has he done? He has input the word, he has imparted the word. Now that's quite a challenge for us as leaders and as pastors as teachers. So what is it that we are imparting into the lives of people? What is it that will give them a strong anchor in God? Let's say we move on with the calling that God has for us and we move on to other responsibilities. What is it done through our ministry that is going to keep them strong in God? Well, here Paul talks about the word of his grace. So Paul had done this work so well. He had imparted the word of God and he trusted that now that there is a deposit of the word of God in the lives of these leaders and others, that that is what will build them up. That is what will give them an inheritance among those who are being, those who are sanctified. Verse 32 says, so let's do the same when we are building people up. What are the raw materials that will give them that spiritual strength? The word of God. Sometimes what happens is coming to the world that we live in these days, people want something exciting all the time. People want something new. People want something that will appeal to their senses. So as ministers, we do feel the pressure to try and keep things exciting for others. However, we must not fall into this temptation by compromising on the truth of God's word. Even when it comes to the presentation of God's word, we need to be careful. How are we presenting it? Is it accurate? Is it going to build people up? Are they going to depend on the word of God in order to live their lives and do their ministries? So these are all questions we need to ask. Now we can just be nice and exciting by I'm just giving you an example. People like the most current technology, people like to talk about whatever is currently going on in the world, relevance. Now in order for us to keep up with the trends around us, it doesn't mean that we should compromise the word of God. Now some people may prefer that the sermons have to be very motivational every Sunday. Those sermons must help us believe that we can get anything, we can do anything. So these are some expectations that people come with. Now just because people come with these expectations and we want to be relevant to the crowds that are coming in, we cannot compromise on the strong solid teaching of God's word. Now people may find some portions of what we are teaching somewhat boring or uninteresting. But these are things that we've got to accept. Not everything is going to be exciting and not everything is going to try to draw the crowd. Now why is it that we want to stick to the accurate word of God or in another place? Paul talks about rightly dividing the word of God. So the reason why we've got to do this is what verse 32 says here. Now he now as he is departing is in a position to say that I commend you to God and to his word. At least he is confident of the fact that what the people need, which is the word he has already imparted it to them in a proper way. Now whether they were excited about the way he taught or they didn't, you know, all that is secondary. But the core matter is to impart the word into the people because that ultimately is what is going to strengthen them. That ultimately is what is going to keep, you know, there is responsible for their sanctification. So these are all very, it's like a tall order and Paul does not hesitate to talk about these matters. And also he goes on to clarify that he was very responsible. He did not take from people. Notice how verse 33 he says I've not coveted. I have coveted no silver or gold or apparel. Now again, all these thoughts are very challenging for us because when we are in a position of leadership somewhere we could, if we want to, we can use that position to exploit people. Even in the area of here he's pointing out finances. But he's saying, look, I have been responsible. I did not try to want and get what others have. But he says, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me. So he labored. We all know that he was a tent maker. So if you want to call it something like, you know, like a marketplace person, that's also Paul's, what can you say, he was not really like a full-time minister because he also had a job through which he was making money. So, you know, his exposure was to ministry as well as the workplace. So that is how he served the Lord and he did not count work as unnecessary. Why did he do that? He's explaining. He's saying I wanted to be self-sufficient and, you know, I did not want to depend on anyone. And this is how I have lived. I've provided for myself. I've also provided for others. So the point I'm trying to make is when there is leadership, there is influence. Now, if we are not careful and if we are not accountable to God, there is a tendency to use it to gratify our own needs, our own desires and exploit people. Now that is something that we must be, you know, alert about, cautious about and not get into stuff like that. It's unfortunate that sometimes we see all these things happening around us where leadership in the ministry is used to take from people, right? But that is so wrong because that's not the example which Paul had. In fact, he tried his best to take care of himself so that he's not a burden to others. Now I'm not trying to say that this means that the people should not bless their leaders or bless their elders. Of course, they can, they must. We have other scriptures for that. But right now we're talking about covetousness and we're talking about, you know, taking in an unrighteous way from people, which is wrong. So Paul gives a very clear explanation about, you know, how he managed that. And of course, towards the end we see the demonstration of his tender love towards the elders. This gives us a good picture of how Paul related to the people. No, he could have, being an apostle, being this man who sought after with many, many leaders, groomed and nurtured under him. He could have just been an authoritarian figure. He could have just, you know, been so emotionally distant from the people, teach them the word and leave. But it shows us a little bit more about his personality. It seems like he was very emotionally connected to the people as well and that he spent a lot of time with these people. He really loved these people. So in verse 36 it says, when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Verse 37, then they all wept freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke that they would see his face no more and they accompanied him to the ship. So they also fellowshiped, they also showed love and affection towards one another. So we'll stop here and I just thought we can discuss a couple of thoughts from here. You know, we've seen so many statements made by Paul and we've seen what leadership looks like as far as he's concerned. So any of your comments to add to this or any questions or anything that touched you? I'll just share what touched me about Paul when he, the way he says to look at himself, like how the confidence that he has when he goes and says people like Paul, all of my example is where we should lead the church. I feel like he has trained himself so much there's a verse where he says, I train myself like someone in the military so that I don't feel unworthy after. And I feel we just listen to those words that I'm like the confidence that they have. Jeffrey, I'm sorry to interrupt you in some places your voice is not coming through. Is it clear? Yeah. So I just feel that the confidence that he has when preaching is because he has really followed the word and that inspires me tells me I just tell myself even I should do that because so that we don't feel unworthy after preaching the word. And I have been there. Sometimes I preach and I'm like, do I really do this or not? But I think we should definitely follow the word. We should be first convinced that what we are preaching is the truth. And I think that that's what makes a great impact when we go and preach the word. So that's one thing that always inspires me. Yeah. Thank you. That's so true. So it was very confident because he had lived it yet followed it. He could confidently speak about it to others and that inspires us. Any other thoughts that may have touched you about Paul and his example, the way he led other leaders, please do share makes the class more interesting. Okay. Do you want more person? Yes. Yeah. I just like the way how you see, you know, he was emotionally connected to the leaders because at times, you know, like, like we may be working for certain leaders, but we don't feel connected to them. We feel the same for them. And, you know, like, it's such an encouragement to know that like Paul was emotionally connected to them and he loved them. And, you know, how he mentored and is such an inspiring. Yes. Thank you. Yeah. We can see that your emotional connectedness. Otherwise, why would they, you know, they kiss each other and cry together? So that's what it demonstrates. Well, I just want to state this one point. Now, different people have different personalities. And their way of relating with others is it's not the same level as far as emotional, emotional connectedness is. But, you know, even, even the most, let's say, a person who's not that emotional, there is, there is some part of their emotions that loves the people. At least that much is required. Because if we don't love the people, I remember in Kingdom Builders, maybe, oh, yeah, you've done it in the last, last year. There is a section where it says that for a Kingdom Builder, people must be, we must carry people in our hearts. So that is very important. Now, if we only do the work of the ministry as a task or an assignment, that won't suffice. God wants us to love people. He wants us to carry people in our hearts. So that is necessary. Now, the emotional demonstration of that depends on each person's, you know, a style of leadership, each person's personality and all that. We're not asking everyone to be, you know, very emotional. But that, at least that initial level of carrying people in our hearts, loving them in our hearts, that is so very crucial. Now, we could even talk about, this is the healthy part. But the unhealthy part would be to kind of go way beyond, right, when it comes to emotional connectedness. So there is a balance, but at least some amount of emotional connectedness is required. Okay. Yeah, any other, any other thoughts about Paul's leadership that we have touched you? We'll take up one more, and then we will move on. I'll share one more. Yes, please. Yeah, about Paul's leadership, even how he focuses on others to build others. Like, I just love how he trains Timothy. It's just so beautiful. Because the book of Timothy has encouraged me a lot. Like, I feel like sometimes I feel like I'm very young. And then how he encourages Timothy, like just because of your age, don't feel like you can't do this. And it just encourages young people a lot. And I think that's very beautiful and very rarely leaders do that to go to a young people and give them the leadership. It's quite hard to trust a young one even, right? Like when we see people, they've had experiences, we were like, okay, they have that experience, they can do this. But then to trust a young one who's just stepping out into this teenage and all this stuff. It's just so beautiful. And how Paul being a spiritual father, a spiritual mother guides them. And I think that takes a lot of patience, definitely. A lot of patience, a lot of teaching, a lot of trust. And I just feel like Paul is just ready to do anything. He just wants to do something for God. Whatever way he can do it, through whatever opportunities he gets, he just makes use of it. And he don't think like, it's only I who have to do it, but he's ready to give it to others. He's ready to give it, train them, build that mindset that he has, as you always say, that Kingdom mindset. Even just now you're saying, he just understood the importance of word. It's the word that's going to stay with the people forever. It's not us. So all these things just gives a bigger picture of the Kingdom. That's what I feel like Paul gives the bigger picture. It's not just about just telling the gospel, but then there are so many things behind it. And all this, his life, he has set an amazing example in his life. And I just pray that we all could set such examples to our future generation when they look at us. They will also feel sturdier, feel passionate to work for the Kingdom. Very true. We set a good example and a very strong example. When we observe his life, it inspires us to lead well. And so we can just also take time to meditate on the life of Apostle Paul. Because this course, while we are looking at the book of Acts, we're also considering the life of Apostle Paul and looking at all that God did in and through him. So what a contrast, isn't it? Here's a man who was passionate as a persecutor. Now that he is transformed, now that he is in the Kingdom of God, he is saved. He is passionate for the people of God, from a persecutor to a passionate lover of God's Word and God's people. It's amazing. It's amazing what God can do in somebody's life. So let's remember this. There are many such examples of good leadership in the Bible. So Acts 20 and Paul's time with the efficient elders is a passage to go to and meditate on quite often. This also reminds us that the Church, as it was thriving, as it was expanding into new regions, the governance style. Do you recall earlier, you had only one Peter standing up and then you eventually had a Peter and John and then it went on to other apostles and then slowly you had Paul and Barnabas. So it kind of continues. The governance of the Church, the ministry, it's becoming more and more apostolic. So no wonder, you remember Paul's calling is an apostolic calling. So that is now playing out. He may have started as a proclamer of the Word, a teacher of the Word, but now he's touching regions. He's raising up many church plans and appointing elders. Appointing elders is a very crucial part of apostolic ministry because it's not about one person. It's got to be about many, many people. But how do we engage these people? How do we work with these elders? How do we guide these elders? How do we strengthen these elders? These are all questions that one needs to ask as far as apostolic ministry is concerned. So this also reveals to us the way the governance of the Church has evolved and how apostolic ministry has become so evident. Now suddenly there are so many leaders who are taking up responsibility. They've been well equipped by Paul and his team and the work is just multiplying. So even in our days, this is something that we must keep in mind. How do we have more leaders and work together with more leaders? Now let's move on. We saw how they were in Miletus or Miletus. Now coming to chapter 21 where the journey continues. You would find that he will go and stop at all those other places that I showed on the map. So let us see from there he will move on to Jerusalem where he will be caught. So this is what will be covered in chapter 21. So if one of us could go over, read through from verse 1. Okay, there's quite a lot here. I don't want you to get confused. Verse 1 to verse 14, you could read. I'll summarize it for us. Yeah, chapter 21. Now it came to pass that when we had departed from them and set sail running a straight course, we came to course the following day to Rhodes and from there to Patara and finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left sail to Syria and landed at Teira. For there, the ship was unloaded, was to unload her cargo and finding Cyprus, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the spill not to go up to Jerusalem. When he had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way and they all accompanied us with wives and children till we were out of the city and we knelt down on the shore and prayed. When we had taken our leave of one another, we aborted the ship and they returned home. And when we had finished our voyage from Teira, we came to Tolemas. We came to Tolemas, greeted the brethren and stayed with them one day. On the next day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed and came to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the seven and stayed with him. Now, this man, who had four virgin daughters, who prophesied and we stayed. And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabas came down to Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet and said, That says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind a man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Now, when we had these things, both we and those from the place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem, then Paul answered, What do you mean by whipping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. So, when we would not pass, when he would not be persuaded, we seized the saying, this will of the Lord be done. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Lupeka, for reading that whole passage. There are quite a few names there. So, I will explain them to us, but then how about we just go for a break now and we come back at 10 and then with the continuation I'd be able to share better. So, let's go for a break right now. Thank you.