What God birthed in Ephesus had been phenomenal and should have stayed this way.
In the article called "Base-Building In A Greek Metropolis" I wrote about the situation in Corinth, Paul's time there and God's work through him and the team of four who joined him there: Priscilla and Aquila (a couple who came from Italy) as well as Timothy and Silas (who came from Macedonia).
What Luke tells us is that there was a new jewish uproar after the 18 months when Paul was taken to court but released. However the Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue and beat up. So the work in Corinth was definitely to be compared with a difficult birth. But paul stayed for a while and later he left with Priscilla and Aquila to Syria and Ephesus. There he left them there and continued to travel to Caesarea, Antioch, over the region of Galatia and Phrygia to finally return to Ephesus... and that's the place where this phenomenal work of God took place, a work shook the city, its religious and business-circles, and reached all Minor Asia. Paul didn't, God's work did:
"So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." Acts 19,20
How?
Through the lives of people who walked with God and whose lives became the message.
Paul left Ephesus after a city-wide riot was dismissed by the authorities and continued to travel in the region. He reached Miletus on his way to Jerusalem where he wanted to celebrate the day of Pentecost and from Miletus he called on the elders from the church in Ephesus. They came to him there.
“And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speakingperverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20,18-35
It should be clear for the attentive Kingdom-believer that this base in Ephesus was important as Paul wrote (maybe more) a letter to them years later, and John wrote a letter as well while he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos.
From a feeble, then powerful and ultimately violent beginning the Kingdom advanced and spread into the whole region of Minor Asia. As we read Paul's words to the fathers in the House we understand that the church is in a quite critical/decisive place in its Kingdom-journey. Nothing dramatig though... yet.
The architectural/apostolic clarity of Paul is mindblowing. Let's have a look.
1 Clarity about his walk and relationship with them
No false humility, no piedestal view, no arrogance. Responsibility, stature, accountability. He is conscious of the powerful beginning but as a Kingdom architect his mind is considering the continuation. The baby was awesome but how is the baby developing, growing up. And how are the parents doing? And the family? This goes beyond the pastoral mindset because it doesn't only look into people but digs into the pursuit, the mandate and assignment. If the assignment is successful people will do well.
Paul spoke firstly about himself
- "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you"
- "Lived among you serving the Lord"
- "Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials"Here we see his priorities which are not ministry, pulpit, spiritual disciplines, events, experiences but deep and meaningful and honorable relationships. He spoke about the way he lived with them.
2 Clarity about the reality of resistance and opposition and of their concerted roots
- "Trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews"
Paul had tasted opposition several times and with various levels of aggressivity. As previously mentioned in this article he had to face serious Jewish storms both in Corinth and in Ephesus. He definitely knew how violent they could be taken into consideration that he had been one of the main front figures in the persecution of Christ-believers. He was also clear about the plotting aspect of the resistance without cultivating a victim-mindseto, a religious paranoia or even conspiration theory.
3 Clarity about his role
- "I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
He might have had series of messages taking the church on a revelational journey with him; however he gave everything regardless of the set-up (publicly and in homes), of cultures/races (Jews and Greeks), of the content of the message (pleasant or unpleasant), of spiritual position. The latter has to do with the fact that we all have to walk with Christ and pursue God's agenda with confidence and tenacity.
His focus was not his progress but theirs; what he taught was intended to help them do wall. walk well, relate well and finish well.
4 Clarity about the next chapter in his journey in the Kingdom and its requirements
- "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me."
- "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more."
Make your own notes.
5 Clarity about how he handled his assignment
- "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
'Innocent of the blood of all men'... what does Paul have in mind. My contribution will be: He had not forced or manipulated anybody to do something outside their personal convictions.
What do you think?
6 Clear instructions for the continuers... accurate succession and ongoing partnership
- "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
The fathers in the House, or the elders are forerunners and therefore their lives and their walks have weight. For this reason the whole church in jerusalem raised their voices like one man and stood up in the Spirit for their forerunners who had been threatened by the Jewish leaders.
To rightly understand 'shepherding' I would recommend you to check my manual called "The Workforce of the Kingdom".
7 Clarity about the hidden dynamics inside the House
-"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speakingperverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves."
Paul knew about the Jewish wolves in Corinth, in God's Old Covenant House but he was clear enough to face the new and probably unexpected situation, namely the wolves inside the New Covenant House, the spiritual descendants of Judas who betrayed His Master. The fathers in Ephesus had to be updated by the architect about the reality of rebellion and betrayal because of its murderous effect on the mandate and assignment.
Could it be the reason why Christ told John to tell the church in Ephesus:
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent." Rev. 2,4-5
Is it identical to what he wrote to the Galatians: "Who has bewitched you?"
8 Clarity about the way to approach the challenge
- "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."
Develop your own notes.
9 Clarity about the way forward
- "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Develop your own notes.
Philip DuPont (June 2021)
