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A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Acts 20:33
The Greek word for coveted is epithymeo, which means desire, lust after. Which is a compound word epi and thumus; to set the heart upon, i.e. long for lust after. This is what Paul wants the church to know that he is not in the ministry to covet no man's silver, gold, or apparel. Covetousness is one of the sins that we can easily commit as it is a sin of the heart. Prov. 4:23 tells us to keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Apparel is one of the areas that we are tempted to covet as when we go shopping we often are wanting the most expensive clothing to impress others. Jesus told us to have food and clothing to be there with content. In this economy, inflation is running rampant and we must be content with such things as we have and not go into debt buying things we cannot afford. How many ministers have had to declare bankruptcy because they did not live on a budget and thus left a bad mark on the ministry? I confess I fell into this trap of the enemy and it caused the demise of my marriage. A minister must be able to rule his own house well before he can be trusted to manage the house of God. Jesus sent us out to work in the vineyard for one penny a day and with that small amount, He is telling us we must keep our priorities in order by doing the work of the Lord without out going into debt. That is how Paul conducted himself in the ministry and he did not make a shipwreck of his life or ministry. May the Lord give us the discipline to live on a budget and be content with such things as we have.
#And now, brethren, 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. Acts 20:32
Paul uses the word commend, and the Greek word is paratithemi, which means to place beside, to set before. That is what he is doing placing them before the word of His grace. The Greek word for grace is charis, which means favor, and kindness. Literal, figurative, or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life of the believer. This grace is able to build upon. The Greek word for build upon is epoikodomeo, which means to rear up, i.e. (figuratively) to build thereon. Then he tells them that God will give them an inheritance. The Greek word for inheritance is kleronomia, which means heirship, i.e. a patrimony or a possession. Since we are joint heirs of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he tells them it is given to make you holy, and consecrated before God. The Greek word for sanctify is hagiazo, which means to purify or consecrate mentally. This is done by the power of the Holy Spirit upon salvation. We are justified by Christ's death on the cross, and sanctified by the word of His grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then we will be glorified when He comes again to give us our glorified body which will be perfectly holy. Then we will be able to enjoy our inheritance with the saints in glory with the Lord above.
#Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears, Acts 20:31
The Greek word for watch is gregoreo, which means to be awake, to be vigilant. That is what Paul wants the church to remember that by the space of three years, he ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears of all the false teachers who would take over after my departure. We must pray to the Holy Spirit to help us to be alert and awake to all the schemes of the devil. We must put on the whole armor of God and have done all to stand strong in the Spirit. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. We do not walk in the flesh, so we must not war in the flesh, but speak the truth in love. For our, God is a consuming fire and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
#Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:30
The Greek word for perverse is diastrepho, which means to distort, misinterpret, corrupt, and that is just what Paul warned would happen after his departure. Men of your own selves shall arise misinterpreting the scriptures to draw away disciples after themselves. We have to beware of this same danger today as there are so many interpretations of the scriptures today, and men take them out of context to say things that are corrupt. Beware of the Newworld translation of the Bible it is one of those translations that take scriptures out of context to say things that distort the true interpretation of the scriptures. Always use a reliable translation such as the King James which was translated by 47 scholars of King James I in 1611 and is the oldest modern translation of the Bible. May the Lord bless you real good and search the scriptures daily as Jesus said for these are they that testify of Me.
#For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29
Paul uses the Greek word for know which is oida, and it means beware, behold, consider, perceive and he wants the elders of the church to know that grievous wolves shall enter in among you after he is gone not sparing the flock. The Greek word for grievous is barys which means burdensome, grave, and weightier, so he is telling you heavy false teachers are going to come in and deceive the flock with false doctrine. So it is paramount that you know the true doctrine of Christ so that when you hear false doctrine you will not believe it or receive it. This is why we have to be like the Bereans Christians who when Paul preached the word of God would go home and search the scriptures to see that it is so. This is what the elders of the church should be aware of and just know that members from among them will arise and take on leadership roles in the church by spreading false doctrine. Therefore lay not your hands on every man, for if you do you may share in their sins. We must examine the fruit of their lives to make sure that they are bearing the fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22 and when we do that we can discern the truth about what they teach by comparing scripture with scripture.
#Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28
The Greek word for taking heed is prosecho, which means to hold to, turn to, or attend and that is what Paul is telling the elders of the church to keep attentive to the word of God and all the flock that the Holy Spirit made them overseers of. The Greek word for overseers is episkopos, which means a superintendent. or bishop. who is a man charged with the duty of seeing that things are to be done for others rightly, as any curator, or guardian? Yes, this is what God hath made them to be and to feed the flock the word of God which Jesus hath purchased with His own blood on the cross. What a blessing this is and all those who do this well will receive a Crown of glory for being faithful overseers. I pray that we do not let any man steal your crown, but watch therefore in prayer and fasting that the Holy Spirit will give you the power to do the job until the Lord returns as the chief Shepherd of the flock. We want to hear well done good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of the Lord.
#For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Acts 20:27
The Greek word for shunned is hypostello, which means to draw to, let down, draw back. Paul is telling the church that he will not draw back or let them down from declaring the whole counsel of God. Hypostello is a compound word to withhold under (out of sight) i.e.to cower or shrink, shun, or withdraw. The Greek word for declare is anangello, which means to bring back word and to announce. Thus this is what Paul is doing by preaching the whole counsel of God. O how we need preachers to do this today and declare thus saith the Lord, and withhold nothing from telling them that the Lord has told you to proclaim from His word. Just as the great hymn of the church: It is well with my soul. It will be well with my soul knowing that I did not shun to tell you the whole counsel of God. I pray that many will get the courage to preach thus saith the Lord to the gay people without being called homophobic. We must speak the truth in love, for God up above loves you with an everlasting love, and has sent His Son to die on the Cross for your sins. O praise God for the tree called Mount Calvary, that sets me free. The same can be true for you, just say come into my heart Lord Jesus and cleanse me of my sins by your Blood. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
#Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. Acts 20:26
Paul is calling for adjudication of his record of preaching. The Greek word for the record is martyromai which means to summon as a witness, to affirm before God. This is what is being done as Paul is testifying to the fact that He has preached the whole gospel without sidestepping the important issues of the day. It is as though he has exhorted solemnly followed by the accusative with an infinitive. It is as though Paul is going through a preponderance of the evidence of his preaching and he is pure from the blood of all men. O how we need our leaders to say this in the midst of the apostasy that we find ourselves in the midst of. Many who preach the word today seek to be politically correct rather than Biblically correct. God will hold all of us who preach the gospel accountable for the blood of those who die in their sins because we failed to preach the unadulterated gospel. We must warn the wicked so that they do not die in their sins. If we have warned them as the word of God tells us, then we are pure from the blood of all men as Paul is. James said to be not many masters for we will be judged severely if we fail to preach the whole gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
#And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Acts 20:25
Paul is giving his swan song to them when he used the Greek word: optanomai which means look, perceive, be sure, understand that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. The Greek word: skopeo means watching from a distance. And the people are very sad at the revelation of this fact, but God uses Paul to advance the kingdom through all the trials that he suffered. The Greek word for preaching is kerysso, which means to herald especially divine truth and publish it. This is what Paul does as he authors fourteen books of the New Testament if you attribute Hebrews to him. What a blessing this has been to the church and we are all better Christians because of how the Lord used Paul to publish the divine truth of the kingdom of God. The Greek word for face is prosopon, which means countenance, fashion, person, and presence. So this is what they enjoyed more seeing his face among them and now knowing that he will not be there with them in person. This is why we must enjoy the presence of our loved ones every day for we never know when the Lord will take them from us, as he did with Paul. Tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them and thank God for giving you the time with them. The poem goes: one life to live, and will soon be past, Only what is done for Christ will last.
#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, that I may testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
The Greek word for finish: is teleios which means to complete, accomplish, consecrate to bring to a perfect end. That is what the Lord Jesus said on the cross when He had finished the work that the Father had given Him to do. So it is with Paul when he said none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy. The Greek word for joy: is chairo which means with cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight or an exceeding fulness of joy. For Paul delighted in finishing the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus on that Damascus road, as well as to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. What a blessing this is to finish the work the Lord Jesus has given us to do. I pray for those of you out there who are caught between two opinions: serve God only and finish the work of the grace of God. Leave this world behind for all those things of this world will perish, but he that does the will of the Father shall abide forever.
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