Bible Reading: Genesis 21; Nehemiah 10; Matthew 20; Acts 20
Acts 20:28 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.
The Bible tells us that Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:17). He is leaving and he wants to encourage them and warn them of what is coming. As an apostle, Paul's job was to declare to them all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). In his warning, we can learn much about Biblical eldership.
- Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock. As elders, they were to pay attention to their lives and the lives of the church. To be careful to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus was their goal. They needed to be always growing and helping the church to grow in Christlikeness as well.
- The Holy Ghost hath made your overseers. The word 'overseers' is the same word in Greek as 'bishop' in 1Timothy 3:1. These men had found a desire to preach and lead in their hearts that came from the Holy Ghost. They were called to this ministry.
- To feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. 'To feed' is the verb form of the noun translated 'pastors' in Ephesians 4:11. The elders/overseers/bishops/pastors were to recognize that God purchased the church with his own blood. They had a responsibility to feed or pastor the flock that the Holy Spirit had made them overseers of.
Here we see two great responsibilities of an elder in God's church. Growing closer to Christ each day and teaching the Word of God to God's flock. Why is this so important? Because an elder that is not growing and staying close to Jesus will lead people in the wrong direction. There are wolves who will devour the flock.
Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
False teaching would lead people away. Paul knew this by a special revelation of the Holy Spirit. The mark of a wolf is that he does not care about the flock and he does not point people to Jesus. He wants disciples to follow him. The apostle was warning the Ephesian elders of what was coming. He loved the church and did not want to see this happen. We need godly, Holy Ghost made, shepherds to lead the church of God. Would you pray for them? Would you ask God for men to lead the church who love Jesus and love people?
In Christ,
Rody
