Welcome to Bible Believers Fellowship and the ministry of bbfohio.com. I'm Pastor Greg, and I welcome you to our study in Acts chapter 20, verses 32 through 38, titled, It is more blessed to give than to receive. We're going to close out Acts 20. Paul speaks of his suffering, warns of false teachers. It's been our last couple of studies. And now he bids a final farewell to these elders of Ephesus he's met with in Miletus. And we're going to read verses 32 through 38. I'll have you read to even with me. So jump right in. Verse 32, And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all, And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. Amen? And that nice scene there. These are his final words to these folks here. And he takes a few minutes to leave us with his commendation in verse 32, an admonition there in 33 to 35, and a valediction, verses 36 to 38. So Paul tells us that God and his word are inseparable necessities for the Christian life. Of course, that may seem basic. Well, it is. But that's his commendation there. Verse 32, it begins by saying, And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. God and his word go together. How many of you know people who don't want anything to do with the Bible, but they'll look you in the eye and say, I love Jesus. Wait a minute, that's a contradiction. If you love Jesus and you mean, see, here's the problem. You know, the Bible says there's another Jesus. Paul said he was concerned that they would believe another Jesus and another gospel. So when you talk to somebody, they say, well, I love Jesus, but they don't love God's word. They've made a Jesus in their own image or in their own imagination. If you love the biblical Jesus, he's the one who says things like, keep my words. He's the one who prayed, sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. If any man love me, he will keep my word. Now over and over, Jesus says things like that. So if you truly love the biblical Jesus, you're going to love his word. Now I hope I'm not talking to anybody in this room right now, but if I am, you need to hear this. If you are not loving God's Word, if you don't desire God's Word, if you don't want to read His Word, you don't want to hide His Words in your heart that you might not sin against Him, there's something wrong with that relationship you have with the Lord. Now, only you can answer that. That's between you and the Lord. You have to answer that. You have to answer that. I can't answer it for you. But as pastor, I have to put it out there. I'm like a chef. You know, you're serving it up hot. Amen. Some preachers like to say I'm stomping on some toes. I like talking about food more than toes. So I'll use that in my illustration. So all real Christians are saved. If you're a real Christian, you're saved. If you're saved, you're a real Christian. Bible-believing Christians go on to grow and serve. You realize you can be a Christian, but stunt your growth. And you can be a Christian and not really be serving the Lord. That's why I don't walk up to somebody who has no interest in God's Word, no interest in serving the Lord, and I don't just walk up and say, well, you're going to hell. Why? Because I don't know. They could be saved and just need God to really shake them up a little bit and get them going. Sometimes that's what it takes. Other people, it just dawns on them at some point. I was kind of like that. I got saved, immediately got into the co-Christian culture, you know, and started going to the youth stuff. I was 20, 19, 20 years old and started going to youth events and doing the things they did and going to places they went. And I was living pretty much like everybody else around me, you know. So I felt pretty good. You know, Paul talks about those people who judge themselves by themselves and judge compare themselves with themselves, and it's not wise. Well, that's what I happen to be reading. Yeah, because I did start reading the Bible. I thought, well, I'm a Christian. I'm supposed to read the Bible. And as I'm reading through the Bible, I kept coming across these Bible verses that would kind of just jolt me a little bit. See, that's what'll happen. You get in the Bible and you read it, and all of a sudden, you'll see yourself. It'll show you. That's why James talks about a mirror. It's like a mirror. And so I'm not really that committed and come along to Romans 12, one and two, presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice. I was just being honest with myself. I don't think I could really say that about me at that point. And so God used that. And I, at some point in my twenties really got, alone with God and said, I believe I'm saved. I believe the gospel. I really believe in Jesus, but I'm not really serving you like I'm serving you the way they ought to. I want to serve you. I want to grow. And I just ask you to start helping me to grow and helping me to have eyes to serve so I can take opportunities to serve you. That changed my life. Being saved changed my eternal destiny. But some people can be saved and you don't see a change in their life for at least a little while. But when you start to see what you ought to be doing, because Paul says it's your reasonable service that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice. And once you get a hold of that, that changes your life here and now. Amen. So following God, according to his word, results in two basic results there, which is able to one, build you up. and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. To build you up and to give you an inheritance. So to build you up means right now in this life you're in, to build you up, make you a stronger believer, a stronger servant of the Lord, give you the wisdom and the desire to serve Him. But then that results in what? The inheritance. See, as you serve the Lord down here, Jesus said, store up your treasures in heaven. That's what he's talking about. As you grow and you serve him here, you're storing up an inheritance. Now, I can't explain to you what it's going to be. I don't know exactly everything that that entails. but we've done some interesting studies in the past. We'll do some in the future if the Lord tarries. I mean, one of the things is, you know, you're going to have a position in the kingdom. You're going to serve King Jesus, and you're going to be given a particular role in his kingdom, role, R-O-L-E, and you're going to fulfill that role in accordance with your life here on this earth. Now, there's nothing shameful with sweeping the streets, but I don't really want to do that for a thousand years, amen? Yeah, it'd be gold dust, the street's gold. But this is basic Christianity. But see, again, I just know I can say this safely that many, many Christians, probably the majority, give very little thought to the inheritance. Why is that? Because they're not really growing and serving Him in this life. Most of the Christians I've ever met are all about themselves, all about me, and it's all about self-help. Christianity is just another self-help book. Instead of, wait a minute, as we're going to see, what is it if I'm really living the way I ought to, if I'm growing and having, you know, self-discovery and all that type of stuff out the window, it's all about now loving the Lord and serving Him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love thy neighbor as thyself. That never says, and love yourself. Why? You already have that down. That's not a problem. That's just, yeah, that's just what comes natural. So that basic Christianity is behind his admonition that we see there in verses 33 to 35. There's next two verses, 33 and 34. I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me." In other words, Paul was not one of these preachers who was always trying to milk everybody and get as much money for himself, but he was not bashful about telling people that they should be giving. You see, a lot of people will go to church, and if the preacher says anything about giving, the preachers are always talking about money. Well, grow up. It takes money for this world to go around. Everything works by money. We have to pay the bills to have the building. We have to pay the bills for the utilities. You like the heat and the lights on right now? We have to pay for that. But the thing is, is why am I telling you to give? Number one, you should be giving because Jesus gave it all for you. And now he just asked you to give to his work and to be giving towards others as a result of what he's done for you. He saved your hide. He saved your soul from hell. It's worth then saying, you know what? I'm going to be sacrificial in the way I give. And no, it's not always cash, but it does involve cash. There is a place for money. You know, so Paul was not a burden or a demanding overlord. And he was always asking, but he was asking on behalf of others. He talked about giving it was so that he could support the Lord's work and to help others in need. And that's what you'll hear me talk about giving in the context of God's word says you should be a giver. But anytime appeals are made, it's for the Bibles that go overseas. It's for the tracts that we hand out. It's for, you know, paying the bills and doing the work of the ministry. That's what it's all about. And his example was one of selfless giving and sacrifice. I mean, first of all, he tells you in those two verses, you know, I didn't covet any man's silver or gold or apparel. He took care of their own necessities. He could have said, all right, I'm an apostle, and these are my assistants here. And so we would like for there to be a tent that is at least 300 square feet. I would like for it to be exactly 71 degrees, like the South Pole Elf, you remember that? And we want three meals a day, and then I want a snack at exactly 3 p.m. in between lunch and dinner, and then I would like a hot cocoa. You know, that's what a lot of preachers do. They're preachers who come in and preach at other churches, and they have a list of things that you're supposed to do for them while they're in town. I'm not kidding you at all. It's just crazy some of the stuff I've seen. Paul wasn't like that. Look what he says in verse 35. I have showed you all things. What's he saying? I lived it in front of you. I didn't just talk the talk, I walked the walk. I have showed you all things, how that's so laboring, ye ought to support the weak. In other words, I'm not just telling you. I showed you. I showed you how to do it. And now I'm telling you, you ought to be doing the same thing. I'm going to be leaving here. I'm going to leave this work behind. And when I'm gone, you should be doing exactly that and supporting the weak. Now, that is something I don't have a lot of time to spend on it, but I just want to mention this. Some of you know that you're a little stronger than other people. I hope you have to be honest with yourself. Some people think they are and they're not. But you might be a little more mature as a Christian and you might have faith that you don't see being, you know, demonstrated by somebody else. That's what this is talking about. You should want to look for opportunities to encourage that person, to help them along. And then sometimes we have to help them with physical needs and things like that. And it doesn't matter what it is, as long as you know that the Lord would have you do it. You don't call me up and say, hey, I'm thinking about doing this. Should I? I would say, you got the wrong number. You were trying to reach the Holy Spirit. And you got Pastor Greg. Amen. So get on your knees and call 1-800-HOLY-SPIRIT and ask Him to guide you in those things. Now, there's nothing wrong with coming and saying, well, I'm doing this, doing that. What do you think about that? That's fine if you want some, you know, input. But on a regular basis, day to day, you and the Lord go out there together every day. You know that? And when you and the Lord are walking around together, you should be looking. Opportunities. And I'll leave it at that as we move on. But many people quote that saying. Look at the rest of verse 35. And to remember the words of the Lord Jesus. Do you have a red-letter Bible? Some of you? Who's got a red-letter Bible? Is this in red? How he said. Who? Jesus. Say it with me. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Now I want to say this. I didn't do this on purpose. We just go verse by verse through the Bible. And it's funny how over the years, Christmas time comes around and we land on a text like that. And it just happened to be the Sunday before Christmas. And this is where we are. And it is more blessed to give than to receive. As a matter of fact, it's really awkward. You know, my brother and his wife were away this weekend, so we went to Virginia. I didn't take anything, you know, to give to them. And then what do we see when we get there? There's a little bag for Greg and Jenny from them. I'm like, oh, you dirt bag. And he knew it. He knew it. I know my brother. He knew it was going to happen. But don't you feel bad? I feel bad when someone gives me something and I don't have anything to give back. But there's sometimes where that's just where you are in life. So we have to be able to receive graciously, amen? But isn't it so much better, don't you feel so much better when you're on the giving end? And when you can find somebody and you assure them, this is a blessing to me. How many times you said that to me? I would say, listen, no. Oh, I'll pay you back. No, no, no. This is a gift. If you pay it back, it's not a gift. And you don't know, this just makes me just, I love doing this. I love doing this. I hate that you actually are in the place you're in. You need what I'm doing, but I'm always looking for this opportunity. So thank you, you know, because it is more blessed to give than to receive. And that's why we want to live wisely. We want to be wise with our money and our time and everything so that we can be in a position to where we can help others. There's nothing wrong with receiving help when you really need it. But don't you want to be in the position of being the giver? Amen. Yeah, Doug? When you get the BB gun, I'm going to shoot you out. From my brother? No, he gave me gift cards for coffee. He knows my heart. I know what you're talking about, I just didn't, I thought you were asking what my brother got me. No, I bought his kids all BB guns a few years ago and that was great, but that's another story. It is more blessed to give than to receive. A lot of people quote that and they don't even realize that they're quoting Jesus. So keep that in mind, not that you can be, I'm smarter than you kind of thing, but it's interesting when people will say that and you'll say, huh, did you know Jesus said that? And if you can remember it's in Acts 20, you can show it to them. Because a lot of people don't realize they're quoting Jesus. You know, that didn't come from Zig Ziglar, you know, Norman Vincent Peale or whoever. Jesus said that. He also said this. Look at Luke chapter 6. Back a few pages. Luke 6. And verse 38. And some of you will read this and say, Amen. I've experienced this. Look at verse 38, Luke chapter 6, verse 38. If you're there, read it with me. Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye meet withal, it shall be measured to you again. Can you say you've been there and done that? I can. There's been a couple times where I really didn't even have the money to give. And I dug real deep. And I was able to give anyway. And then the next couple of weeks, bam, bam, bam. Every time I turned around, some blessing. Isn't it amazing? Now you don't, be careful now. That's not, you don't want to give to get. It's not a, oh, watch this, I'm gonna give, you know, and then now, okay, here, take that, okay, go, and I'm just watching. Stuff gonna fall out of the sky in my lap, you know? That's not how it works. But when your motive is to give because you wanna show the love of Christ. We love the Lord and we wanna show his love to others. And especially, I think, God, I think it's a button, little special gifts whenever it does hurt. You know, you're giving, you're digging deep. Now I'm not telling you not to pay your bills and just start giving your money away. He doesn't bless foolishness and he wants us to be good steward and you're not to be a crook and steal. So if you don't pay for things that you, you know, you don't run up the credit card to give people stuff and then not pay your credit card bill. That's not what he's saying. But sometimes, you know, you're given money that might go to something else and you get it to help somebody or you buy whatever they need or whatever. And then all of a sudden, boom, it's just, just what Jesus says here. Good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. And I'll tell you this real quick. I've told this story, some of you heard it years back. I had one suit. I was preaching week after week. Back when I was younger, I was a little more of a fireball. People had me come in and preach, you know, and it was a good time. I had experienced a lot of good stuff, but I felt embarrassed because I'd always had that same suit on. And I was saving up to buy a suit. And I found out about somebody else who needed something. And I gave that money. I thought, I'll just start over. I'll save again, but I'm going to give this money to help that situation. And it was right after that, an agnostic, a man who doesn't even claim to believe in God, calls me in his office and says, I want you to come by my house. I've got some suits I want to give to you. He said, believe it or not, two years ago, I was about your size, but I'd put on 50 pounds, so I bought a bunch of new suits, and I don't want to just throw these away, so you'd come by my house. I thought they'd be two or three. I walked in there. I had a suit I could wear one every week, every season of the year, and not wear the same one. I barely could get them all in my car, because I was driving an Escort. And I was like, this is amazing. It was like $3,000 or $4,000 worth easy back in the early 90s of clothes. That's the kind of thing. Now, again, don't give, and if you don't get a carload of clothes given to you, think I'm lying to you. But I'm just saying, you just never know what's going to happen. You hear this, give until it hurts? Give until it feels good. That's what you can do as a believer. Give until it feels good. 2 Corinthians 9, 7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. In other words, if you go walking up and say, here, take this. That's not the idea. You should be able to give with a smile on your face and not gritting your teeth and smiling. You know, it's the way I've had people, not very often, but I've had a few people over the years say, well, I'm going to start giving to the church, but I just this and I just that. I said, wait, wait, wait, wait, you shouldn't give anything to the church. How often do you hear pastors say that? Well, I said, until you can give with a cheerful heart, give because you love the Lord and you want to do this, keep it. That's why I say, we've said this before, we don't want to nag people about coming to church. There's some churches you miss a service, you get a postcard, a phone call, someone comes and visits, knocking on the door, you know. We're not like that. If you're gone for a couple of weeks, we'll call and check on you, hey, you still alive? You know, everything all right? But we're not going to nag you about coming to church because I don't want you to be here unless you want to be here. And if you don't want to be here, I think there's something wrong with you, not us. But that's for another time. We have to... Tis the season Tis the reason. Isn't that good? He gave himself so we give of ourselves. That's Titus 2.14, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Isn't that something? He gave Himself that He might redeem us sinners from all iniquity, and then in doing so, He purifies unto Himself a people that are peculiar, and everybody in this room, you are peculiar, I'll tell you that. But you ought not only be peculiar, but you ought to be a people that is zealous for good works. That's the idea. And it's not just true at Christmas time. There should be something all year round And with that word, we see Paul's tenderness toward his believers, toward the believers he's talking to with his valediction. And that's in the last three verses, real quickly. But I just want to mention, it's good to learn new words. Some of you think I said valedictorian. I did not say that. A valediction is a farewell or a bidding farewell. So if you hear someone referring to a valediction, they're talking about bidding farewell. And verses 36 and 37, back in our text, And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. There's been a few times where I've had this experience. A couple of times with somebody I knew was dying. And then a couple of times when I was leaving a ministry. It is a very bittersweet moment. Sweet, because you got to know these people. If it wasn't for Jesus, we wouldn't have cared to know each other. I love y'all, but if it wasn't for the fact that you love Jesus and I love Jesus and we're here for that reason, we probably wouldn't even know each other. Except for Jenny. I would have chased her down regardless. That's the tie that binds. No sweeter tie. Then when you have to say goodbye, it's like that. It really is. The opposite of what we will do in that great homecoming at the rapture. Think of that. This is the farewell, but at the rapture, think of the embrace. Think of that moment and loving hugs and kisses. It's just going to be an amazing time. But sorrow remains until this life is over. And I want to quickly... Hebrews 9. Hebrews 9, 27 and 28. Hebrews 9, 27 and 28. Very familiar verse, especially verse 27. If you dare read 27 with me. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment. Now look at this verse 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. But it's appointed unto men wants to die. I have to say there are so many people when people die, somehow it affects their faith. And I kind of understand it, but I don't. When someone I love dies, if I'm paying attention, I shouldn't be shocked by that. It's appointed and the man wants to die. But I prayed. Well, and God said, no, because it's going to happen. That loved one has got to die sometime unless they're alive at the time of the rapture. or they're Kenneth Copeland who's going to live to be 120. Everybody else, you know, you're going to die. And so when they die, the thing to do is two things. If they're saved, praise the Lord. Death is horrible, but they're immediately in the presence of the Lord. And if they're unsaved, you know what I do? Oh, and I won't lie to you. There's times where an unsaved person or relative had died and I have, you know, bitterness and tears, but I'm not mad at Jesus. And I actually take a moment and pray and say, Lord, I thank you for the fact that I know you did everything to save them. And you would have saved them if they would have just repented toward you with faith in that gospel. I thank you. And I know it wasn't that you were willing that they perish. See, you have to have the biblical perspective on life and death. And when you do, then when someone dies, bad things happen to good people, it's not going to cause you to falter in your faith. Even though it is a time of mourning, there's a place for mourning. John 11, 35, Jesus wept. Even Jesus mourned right before he was ready to raise Lazarus from the dead, and he still wept. So it tells you death is going to bring those emotions and those feelings out. But we close back in our text, verse 38. Paul wept, but look why. It says, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. So Paul knows he's going to see him again at the rapture, but yet he's human. And in parting, he knows he's not going to see him this side of heaven. And so he has that natural human sorrow. We must part from loved ones with sorrow until we sorrow no more. I want to close with the reading in Revelation 21. And yes, I went over a couple of minutes because that's your fault. You guys kept asking questions and talking. Revelation 21, 1 to 8. I'm asking you to stand with me as we close reading this. Revelation 21, 1-8. Read the even with me. Stand if you can. You don't have to stand if you can't. Revelation 21, 1-8. Join in the even with me. I'll start verse 1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, read the even with me, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. So we end on that, what we might call an ugly note. Because it's a reminder of what He's done for you. If you're saved. And it says, we're going to sing in the song in a second. The herald angels sing, Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace. Hail the Son, S-U-N, of righteousness. Light and life to all He brings. Risen with healing in His wings. Amen? Father, we thank You, Lord, for this time and Your Word. We thank You for what You've taught us. and help us, Lord, to really allow this to take place in our hearts and minds as we walk out the door and into the world. We will take these truths with us and let it affect us. Some need to be changed by your word. Others just need to be lifted up and carried along with more encouragement from your word, whatever the case may be. We thank you, Lord, and ask now you pleased as we sing your praises for your glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Turn to page 83, Wood.