In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Lee Cummings returns to the pulpit with a powerful word out of Acts 20.

Acts 20:17-32 (ESV)
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

When it comes to the Church Paul knows:
- What begins as pure can become tainted
- What starts powerfully can become weak
- What originates in heaven can get hijacked by hell
- What God builds through mans obedience and become corrupted and coopted because of rebellion and selfish ambition

Satan’s greatest tool is deception

Paul identifies three groups of people to pay attention to

Shepherds: those who have been called by Jesus to lead His Church

Wolves: false teachers or influencers, who present themselves as either sheep or shepherds but have a secret motive or ambition besides your maturity in Christ

The Flock: made up of both sheep and goats (Matthew 25)

True shepherds lay down their lives, while wolves have their own agenda

Shepherds are appointed by God and recognized by men, while wolves appoint themselves

Shepherds point and lead to Jesus, while wolves draw to themselves

Sheep know the voice of their shepherd

Sheep stick together and follow the shepherd

Goat ignore the voice of their shepherd

Goat are reckless and are driven by curiosity and their own personal appetites

Beware of anyone teaching you a doctrine or “new” perspective of the bible that has been formed on the anvil of culture and not in the forge of the Holy Spirits fire and attested to by those who’ve paid in martyrs blood throughout the ages of church history

Ours is a faith to be received – theirs is a faith to be deceived