Acts 20:28-31 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers… I. THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY (ver. 28). "To feed the Church of God." 1. Nourish, strengthen, and build up the souls of men with the doctrines of grace. But before souls can be fed they must be converted. This can only be done by the Holy Ghost applying the atonement of Jesus Christ. The Church is composed of men and women who have been purchased with the "blood of the Lord." 2. To do this work we must "Take heed" — (1) To ourselves; our own souls must first of all each day be cared for. (2) To the flock. II. THE REASONS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY (vers. 29, 30). There is great danger ahead. Grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 1. External foes — infidelity, intemperance, etc., are wolves. 2. Internal foes — black sheep in the flock — selfish, designing men, speaking perverse things. Oh how Sabbath schools and churches are destroyed by "grievous wolves" and black sheep! III. THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE DISCHARGED (vers. 31-45). 1. By watchfulness "Therefore watch." "Watch and pray" was one of the Master's greatest exhortations. 2. Perseverance — a night and day toil and anxiety (ver. 31). 3. An unswerving trust in God and in the Word of His grace (ver. 32). 4. Self-sacrifice — we must not covet money, fame, ease, or anything that man can bestow. We must be — like our Master and like Paul — givers, not receivers (vers. 33-35). The concluding verses (36-38) are most suggestive of the spirit we all need — prayer, love, gratitude, deep sorrow in parting with friends, and especially with those who have blessed us in the Lord! (A. H. Moment, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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