A Clean Heart (Part Five)

Part of having a clear conscience is found in making sure we are willing to say the tough things when they are needed. This means, as we saw yesterday, cautioning the followers of Christ about the dangers that could derail them personally. Today, Paul continues by warning about dangers that can come from outside the body of Christ with a…

B. Public Warning (vv.29-31)

Remember that this is to the elders at the church of Ephesus- a church much blessed, yet still in need of warning. Remember also that Timothy followed Paul as pastor there, and his warnings became theirs as well…

• Rejection of truth (1 Tim 1:6-7)
• Shipwrecked faith (1 Tim 1:19-20)
• Demonic Doctrine (1 Tim 4:1-7)
• False Teachers (2 Tim 2:17-18)
• Loss of love for Christ (Rev 2:1-7)

Here again, in the person of their elders, Ephesus receives another warning…

1) False Teachers from Without (v.29)

“Savage (violent, rapacious) wolves”- they seek to infiltrate and destroy the flock through false teaching. The church can have no spiritual effectiveness without purity of doctrine, hence the flock must be warned of false teachers.

2) Dictators, self-willed disruptors from within (v.30)

Compare to Diotrepehes in 1 John…

“I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 9-11)

Both these attacks will destroy the flock. See the passion of Paul as he pleads with them to be warned—

v.31- “watch, remember, warned”

How hard had he warned? For three years continually weeping! This weeping mirrors that of Christ in the garden (Mark 13:35). He passionately warns them! Paul is fearful for their future because he knows the danger that is before them, and it stirred him to warn them with all that he had within him! Why?

False teachers abound who will ravage the flock of God- watch and warn!

Tomorrow we will conclude this extended look at the heart of ministry and a clear conscience.

One Response to “A Clean Heart (Part Five)”

1. daisymarygoldr says:

   September 21, 2010 at 1:53 pm

   Really being blessed by the “Concerned, committed and clean heart” series…

   How can followers of Christ remain silent and not warn with tears when we look at The Church so shamefully divided due to spiritual childishness that leads to envy, strife, jealousy among members with diverse gifts, different backgrounds and experiences?

   How can we keep from weeping when we witness right within an apostate church the so-called liberal movement that perverts the truth, promotes sexual immorality and pressures people of all age groups to compromise with the world?

   How can we hold back tears when we see grievous wolves entered into the church bringing false doctrines of materialism, post-modernism and feminism that are causing marriages to fail because of senseless acts of grown-ups who are mercilessly slaughtering their children on the altars of drugs, alcohol and sex?

   Jesus drank the cup of suffering and promised His disciples “You will indeed drink from my cup”. Paul endured suffering for the sake of the elect. And when called to sow with tears if we also endure, we will someday reap with joy and reign with Him!