R1551 Last Words That Matter

God has an encouraging word for you and me today.

The Bible-based preaching Dr. Don Wilton in this edition of The Encouraging Word the last words that matter that surveys message to Dr. Don Wilton as we study another rigor for you. 6899 word on the phone the Encouraging Word.org online with Dr. Don was about to go to Jerusalem and he knew that would be his final journey.

So when he did up in this place called Miletus. Arnie's final journey was about to leave and go to Jerusalem, God, and spoken. You knew that he was going to die. He knew this was that this was these final journey, Paul knew that this was the final thing that he could ever say to the people that he loved most. He knew that whatever it was that he was saying would really matter. There's no time for wasting words you and you know the story and if you were to look at Miletus here on this section of the Aegean Sea and you would roll a circle around the ironically Miletus really is almost rock in the saints of polls wound.

It's just a point of interest. This Greek city got called Miletus just below Ephesus and just before he boarded that ship to make his final trip to Jerusalem, knowing full well that that's where they killed Jesus and he was a Jesus man. He had something to say, knowing full well that he would not have another opportunity to say.

Let me read it to you open your Bibles to acts chapter 20. I'd like to begin reading at verse 22. Acts chapter 20 beginning in verse 22 Paul makes a statement. He said, and now I'm going to Jerusalem constrained by the spirit and not knowing what will happen to me. There, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions white for me, but I do not consider my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course in the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God and now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will ever see my face again.

Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of whole because I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God, so pay careful attention to yourselves, people, and pay careful attention to the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you leaders influences to care for the church of God which he obtained by his own blood, because I know that often. My departure fierce wounds will come in among you, not sparing the flock and from your own selves will arise mainly speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples off to them. Therefore, be alert remembering that for three years.

I did not cease Nitro day to admonish everyone of you with tears and now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified are coveted no one silver or gold or apparel you yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who are with me in all things. I've shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the week. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he gave himself and he said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive and when he had said these things, he knelt down and he prayed with them and there was much weeping on the part of all and I embrace Paul and I kissed him, being sorrowful, most of all because of the word he had spoken and that they would not see his face again and so they accompanied him to the ship.

Just amazing to speak you for a few moments on lost words that really matter, but I do they not on any matter.

But they speak volumes. I found that even at funeral services haven't you funeral services speak volumes to the person's life.

I love the phrase that we use for so many of our beloved to have gone to be with the Lord we call it the celebration of life. I love that celebration of life. I love listening to people who get up and talk about fathers and mothers and sons and daughters and husbands and wives in the tears and in their grief speaking perhaps most eloquently to the things that are being said that really matter. So what was it about polls lost words or the say I'd like to just give these to you.

I do want to say that each one of these probably comprise a written book in and of themselves, so you need to beg my pardon today. I think Paul probably understood that. I mean there's just so much to each one of these things that he said, but as I began to study this great passage and I began to see Paul after his incredible ministry and the love that he had for people. And above all the love that he had for the Lord Jesus Christ. I found myself just feeling that love. It was as though Paul by the Holy Spirit had reached up with these hand and putting his hand on mine personally filters I have read and reread this passage that I was sitting next to him and that he was putting his head into the nape of my neck. I really God began to speak to me about my own life and about us and about who we are in the world in which we live. What did Paul say to the church quantity say to these lead.

What is he saying to you and me number one to remain steadfast. I think if you begin to unpack. Verse 22 to verse 25. Paul was in essence saying look I want you to know I have been about the father's business and I've traveled from city to city experience great blessings but I've also been persecuted, but I want you to know that what is paramount is that you stick to the assignment that God is given you the spiritual dropout rate is alarming. I see it, even as a pasta, probably one of the saddest things that I see from time to time is people who come into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and who once served him with a whole heart became victims even of circumstances of an unkind word of a public stoning and I can understand that there is a rationale and there's a reason. And Paul I think was looking at ease our life and even say this, but I would not have been in any way upset with him.

Had he said you know I had every reason to just slow down just stop, take a seat remains stable false stand up, keep going. This is Jesus, whom I serve. Number two I think what Paul said in verse 24 is make certain you keep the main thing the main thing I like that. We've tried to recommend that to ourselves all these years I think. In verse 24, which is such a powerful verse that we've looked previously. I consider my life nothing except thing the assignment that God has given to me to testify concerning Jesus. Have you given your life to the Lord Jesus you know him. He sets us free. Forgive you for your sin give you hope beyond the grave. You hold your hand all the way. I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand.

You know that I want to invite you to give your life to Christ, you can do it right now. You can be in Montana, California, Oregon, maybe here in Massachusetts pick up the phone. I got friends right now. This is the main thing. Give your life to Christ.

What was Paul saying number three. He what he was urging them to declare the whole counsel of God is what he said in verse 27. I did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God. What a powerful validity. You know what that says to me don't pick at God's word.

Don't be selective because what's going on in our world today. Folks from one church to the next, from one preacher to the next one denomination to the next reciting you know what I'm going to take this part of what God sees, but not that the Bible this book the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. All of it is God's word God inspired Holy Spirit breathed. This is truth. You can't leap from over Scripture you don't take little pieces and site will the supplies and this is out of date and that doesn't mean this context in Scripture is very important. Why many of us see something in the Bible and we take it out of its context. You will understand what it is saying.

That's why Bible study is so valuable is why we want you to study the word of God and seek God's place in the spirit of God will give you understanding but pulls it done. Whatever you do, declare the whole counsel of God number four to pay attention to themselves. You know this is an interesting thing when he gets down right there in verse 28 pieces pay attention to yourself. So watch me today that you ready for the question we gotta talk about keeping the main thing the main thing and we can talk about remaining steadfast and we gonna talk about in little while about wolves in sheep and everything that one can imagine, but how you doing you know I personally felt like when I got to that part.

It's like that don't you just be very careful. You stand up there and speak to all those people you make sure your own life is what it needs to be in the presence of the Lord, you know Peter in first Peter chapter 2 in verse one, he says, among many other things. If you're a believer by the spirit you need to rid yourself of hypocrisy and this is what he's talking about here. Take care of yourself. Examine your heart before God. Someone said one time every time you point the finger. There's another three or four pointing straight back at yourself. We very quick even in Christian circles, to point out everybody else's.

Be careful about pointing fingers at everybody else's sin in order to justify your own self righteousness. And this is a strong word.

So what is Paul saying these lost words pay attention to yourself.

He's calling you and me individually and then he moves on from then he says not only pay attention to yourself, but watch out for others. Watch out for others. Watch out for the people he calls them the flock to beautiful picture here the shepherd the flock. The Bible calls us, the people of God, sheep, Bible tells all of us like sheep have gone astray. All of us need nurturing all of us very much like parents watching over the children beautiful picture isn't to beautiful picture we watch out for one another. Thank you for watching out for me. Thank you for being concerned. Thank you for watching out for one another in a deeply spiritual medic. It matters, and God gives to us as God's people varying capabilities and giftedness within the context about leadership to be able to utilize what God is given to us to provide great blessing to others that may not be fully aware or maybe prime much like in a similar way, much like children approaching the busy street.

The child can be whatever agent parents are still dying to say my daughter know your standdown.

Hold my hand. Do not run because as a parent you know that this traffic day and that can present a terrible danger to a child who doesn't mean to run out.

You folks need to be watched over spiritually. I need to be watched over. That's the value of being in life groups and accountability groups, the value being part of the body like this.

It's watch over each other's marriages. Health will be playing hurt. Number six.

He said, be aware of satanic attacks. You know that such a powerful statement that he makes in the second part, he says I just want you to be so careful as you watch out for the people that you are fully aware that Satan is alive and will by the way doesn't always announce himself. The attacks of Satan and his tactics very subtle happening all across America today.

It's happening in churches today in school rooms and bullet rooms. It's happening in government circles the devil as a warning line, seeking whom he may devour any turns to people writer. This is his last word and he says excuse me, you claim to follow Jesus you're a man you're a woman who is a means spiritually stand up and watch out for people.

Don't be afraid to stand up and call a spade a spy because they're all names and I can't even from in your very mixed and I will rise up and they will use every kind of power persuasiveness to pull people away. I tell you scams on television today are rampant.pray especially for our senior adults. These Robo calls and people raising money. I know of people as I speak to that of paid thousands of dollars to scams that come in the form of emails come in the form of phone calls in mail that arrives at your postbox every day wanting money for this and supporting that and it is so subtle you think it came from one of your own children. People form for now. Put your name on there and make you feel like you were personally selected by the White House for a particular reason and if you just send them $100.

You're the person that's going to change America and you fall for it. That's human nature.

We just get sucked into this vacuum. How much more so when it comes to the spiritual things of life.

Protect yourself. Putting parameters in your spiritual life. Be careful who you listen to unfold out of your window and just listen and gobble up whatever it is you see on television. Whatever it is that you listing whatever anybody say just because it looks good and sounds good.

Don't be swayed by crowds and don't be swayed by power and positions herself in the word of God and pull your that he was about to die and he turned to these people and he said watch out for yourselves and watch out for one another and be aware that Satan has got your number and he doesn't like you and he doesn't like God and he doesn't want Jesus and he's going to do everything he can to destroy. He wants your money number 70 said study and pray verse 32 is such a powerful verse he says, and now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is the very means by which you built up very means by which you all sit apart and what is he trying to say here just before he heads to Jerusalem, knowing that they will never see him again study and pray, study the word of God study to show yourself approved unto God, seek God's face. Let God soak you up. That's what we do not command you today, I commend you for having your Bibles. I commend you for reading the script to write commend you for your quiet time I commend you for your discipline. I commend you for seeking God's face.

These are disciplines that don't come about easily. Not for any of us. We all battle with these thing. It's a discipline it's a self discipline. We got Bible study groups now that are all over the place with these self disciplines are being made readily available with one another that we can one another up in the word of God and then finally but not conclusively. He says to them be free of self interest that essentially is verse 33 through 38 be free of self interest.

Can you imagine this is he's lost word to these people and he says listen set yourself free from anything that serves yourself and this is how you do it again another dissertation always be satisfied with what you have done, what other people have just be satisfied you the best person. You're a wonderful person be satisfied strive for the best. Do your best boon for the base but be satisfied.

Don't spend your life. Watch me. Don't spend your life always trying to find the elusive somebody else's dream. Young people don't spend your life constantly trying to find what somebody else says being the best you God will bless you for that. The way you rid yourself of self interests is by working hard that you love that phrase. There he uses I have shown you that by working hard.

I love that statement. Don't be afraid of hard work, jointly hard work, the more you work hard. The more satisfied you will be the more you will enjoy the time that you have.

You value your home a lot more when you will call you value the motor car that you drive when you will call you value your accomplishments you value everything you put in the time and the effort and the work roll up your sleeves and go to work get off the couch, stop lounging around doing nothing. Get motivated and it's a discipline yet to set the alarm to get up sometimes and sometimes you don't feel like doing some good and you come back with such a sense of blessing in your own life 20 sign you how do you how do you be free of self-interest help those who are weak. That's what he talks about how people are weak. Just make a decision even today, as God speaks to you that you can find someone who needs help this week and you and I hope it how do you like that one just make a decision today that you love the Lord your find someone you going to say Lord just put someone in my partway that just needs help and when you go help. Don't call someone and say excuse me, I'm calling you to see if someone would go up, folks. Do you know how many calls we get from wonderful people you say, listen, there's this thing of year we just wondering if you got someone over there or maybe you could send some going out yes we will. And yes, we do but excuse me, what's the matter with you, and you feel that right that's what he saw. Just get out there and help somebody help a person across the road, stop and minister to someone. Don't pay someone else's bullet. The restaurant find a window by herself invited to come to your table just walked next door and Simon cannot do the just just to say just find somebody you will it'll knock your socks off you come out of this. I will I thought I was helping them and you come away with this. It's a spiritual thing to spiritual thing. God will bless you, you don't do it because of that you do it because you love the Lord Jesus. How do you free yourself of self interest. Just give more than you receive are you doing that scar and do a little tally right now. Your tithes and offerings you giving more than you receive has your bank balance look these days I'd someone walk up to me this morning.

Simon, I want to give this to help somebody just to try just get on board and give God what belongs to God give you offerings getting gay that's what he says it's more blessed to give than it is to receive it's just the law of God and then the final one he says here he says if you want to hear my lost words is the final thing he said just sharing the unspeakable gift of God's team of precious people. I think that was the final statement he made his right thing he said when it settled these things. I knelt down and they prayed.

I all got around and look out today. That's what I see I see just a bunch of people who are willing to gather around and kiss one another on the cheek and share in one another's lives and pray share together worship together do things together. Love on one another. I thank God for you. Listen.

That's the church I know I'm probably putting words into his mouth, but I think in essence he was saying listen Amanda. Don't neglect the local church of God's given you about it. A powerful message from Pastor and he will be back in just a second, but we want to know that we're here to pray with you and for you. 866899 word that's 866899673 or online@theencouragingword.org and here's Dr.again, are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. So if you've heard, not just the voice of our pastor Dr. Don Wilton, but the Lord's voice compiling you, inviting you welcome you home.

Let us talk with you. Pray with you our phone numbers. 866-899-WORD that's 866-899-9673 or me this online@theencouragingword.org. You know, these are such special times together. So right things that we can worship together like this The Encouraging Word I just love and I want to know that you know this ministry goes on 24 hours around the clock time. We want to be involved in your life. We want to continue praying for you and with us all the time. Prayer giving me know that one.

Again, as we all sharing without searching, that's what this is all about weaning God is right, and I love you today on on