Acts 20:16

Acts 20:16 says, For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.  Verse seventeen adds, And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.  After stopping at Miletus, Paul sent for the elders at Ephesus to come to him.  He didn't want to go to Ephesus since he could not stay with them. If we feel or know that anything is going to tempt us to delay what God has directed us to do, we need to avoid it.  Paul had a great love for the church at Ephesus, but he was being called by the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem.  We may have a great love for a church in a particular area, but if God is calling us elsewhere, we need to move on. Verse eighteen continues, And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, When the elders came, Paul reminded them of how important they had always been to him.  From the first day he came to Asia, he had been with them through all seasons.  He hadn't just passed through and forgotten them.  We have homecoming services at churches today to spend time sharing what the church there has meant to us.  Still, unless it is our home church, we then have to go back to where God currently has us serving.  Paul knew he had to move forward, and so do we.  If we are members of a particular church, it needs to be because God has called us there.  When God's people get serious about serving Him where He places them, then worship will naturally overflow.  Verse nineteen declares, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:  Paul told them that he served the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears, and temptations, which befell him by the lying-in wait of the Jews.  We see too many preachers today who serve with pride in themselves instead of humility in Christ.  How long has it been since we have shed tears over the church?  Due to the threats of the Jews, Paul could have been tempted to give up, but he never did. If we feel threatened for exercising our faith, we should do as Paul did and keep on witnessing. The perceived threat of possible punishment is often enough to silence us.  Verse twenty adds, And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,  Paul told the elders that he had kept nothing from them that was profitable to them.  We need to share with others everything we know about being a Christian.  We don't need to keep any part of the truth of God to ourselves.  Paul shared these things with them publicly and from house to house.  If the gospel is to be effective in bringing people to Christ, then it must be shared publicly.  If Christians are to grow in Christ, the gospel must be taught from house to house.  Verse twenty-one continues, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul testified to both the Jew and the Greek repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  This can be our only testimony, that we repented of our sins and accepted salvation through Christ.  He is our Lord Jesus Christ.  Though we come to him through a personal relationship, He does not belong to any person or group of people exclusively, not even Christians as we belong to Him, and not Him to us.  Christ is not to be hoarded as mine, but to he shared as ours.