Serving the Lord… at All Cost in Spiritual Battle

(This is part five of a seven-part devotional series from Acts 20:13–38.)

BIBLE READING: Acts 20:24, 28–31

KEY VERSES:

“I consider my life worth nothing to me…Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock…savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth…” (vv. 24a, 28a, 29b, 30a; NIV)

Last week I said that Paul was courageous in proclaiming (declaring, showing, speaking, telling, testifying, witnessing, heralding, preaching!) the Gospel to the people of Ephesus, one of the largest and most impressive cities in the ancient world. I say “courageous” because in Ephesus he was “severely tested by the plots of the Jews” (v. 19; NIV), and he had to contend with rioting worshippers of Artemis (Acts 19.23–41), and he even had to fight wild beasts there! (1 Cor. 15.32). Paul knew that his battle was not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers. And he knew that in battle there are wounds, suffering, death. So his attitude was, “It doesn’t matter what happens to me — I’ll pay any price — if I can just glorify God by telling the Ephesians about the Gospel of His grace.” (v. 24) Paul had a warfare mentality. He knew that the church is always threatened, from outside and from within. Satan never takes vacations. Sin lurks at the door. Paul therefore commands the elders to be alert. The Greek word he uses in v. 28 means “pay attention to, be cautious about, beware, have regard.” The word he uses in v. 31 means “keep awake, watch, be vigilant.” Watch out! Beware! Stay alert! But to what? First, to the internal dangers (doctrinal negligence, moral carelessness, apathy, egocentrism, etc.), which is why he says to keep watch over yourselves (you, the leaders of the church), and also all the flock and the church of God. The internal dangers are real: “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” (v. 30) We cannot take this lightly. But look out, because the spiritual battle also holds external dangers: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.” (v. 29)

PRAYER:

Oh Lord, please make me constantly aware of the battle going on to steal Your glory, to decimate Your church, and to destroy me. Help me be like Paul, considering my life worth nothing as long as I can live (or die) in battle in a way that is pleasing to You.

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About the Author

João (but you can call him John) is a “Great Commission Entrepreneur”, passionate about starting and leading anything — mission agencies, churches, businesses — that helps fulfill the Great Commission. He loves to speak, teach, preach and write about God’s glory in all areas of life and among all peoples of the world. His work has appeared in numerous books and in Christianity Todayand The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, among others. He holds degrees in sociology and practical theology, specializations in systematic theology and entrepreneurship, and doctorates in intercultural studies (D.Int.St.) and religious studies (Ph.D.). You can connect with him at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Podcasts, as well as joao.mordomo@gmail.com.