Its More Blessed to Give Acts 20:1738

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Its More Blessed to GiveActs 2017-38
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Background, Acts 2017-34

• Meeting With Ephesian Elders
• Vs. 18, Been with them for 3 years
• Address full of feelings, instruction,
  persuasion
• Appeals to their knowledge on his manner of life
• Vs. 19, Served with humility
• Preached with tears,
• 2nd Corinthians 24, with many tears
• Philippians 318,weeping enemies of the cross
• Vs. 20, Kept back nothing
• Declared Gods word publicly
• Declared Gods word from house to house

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Acts 2017-34,cont.

• Vs. 21, He had Testified/taught
• Not only Jews but Greeks as well
• Taught repentance
• Taught faith toward God Son
• Vs. 22-23, Now, Change Coming
• Must leave and go to Jerusalem
• Bound in the spirit, Determined to go
• Didnt know what awaited him
• Except that, bonds afflictions in every city

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Acts 2017-34,cont.

• Vs. 24, None of this moved/concerned Paul
• He wasnt afraid to die for Christ
• 2nd Corinthians 1210, I take pleasure in
  infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
  persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake
  for when I am weak, then am I strong.
• Vs 25-27, They wouldnt see him again
• He loved these men
• Taught them how to be Christians
• Taught them the whole counsel of God
• Never meet again in this life

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Acts 2017-34,cont.

• Vs. 28-31, Warnings about the future
• Take heed of your selves and to all the flock
• Be examples, 1 Peter 53
• Feed flock that was purchased with His blood
• Watch for grievous wolves after I am gone
• Matthew 715,ravening wolves, spare nothing
• Watch, some will arise within
• Watch as I have watched the last three years
• Ceased to warn night and day with my tears

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Acts 2017-34,cont.

• A Change of Tone
• Vs. 32, Paul Commends them to God His word,
  Now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the
  word of his grace
• Commend, (paratithemi), to entrust, commit
• Dont count on me, count on God
• His word will encourage you
• His word will help you gain your inheritance
• Vs. 33-34, Pauls motive for teaching NOT
• For Silver, gold, or clothing
• For more than was necessary to live

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Key Message, Acts 2035

• Pauls Motive for Teaching Gospel
• Acts 2035, I have showed you all things, how
  that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
  and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how
  he said, It is more blessed to give than to
  receive.
• He showed them
• All things pertaining to salvation
• How to labor
• How to support the weak
• How to live as Christians

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Context of Acts 2035

• First Glance
• Jesus exact words not found in scripture
• Obvious, words well recognized
• Enforces duty to help less fortunate
• FAR DEEPER MEANING
• Eternal blessedness of giving vs. receiving
• Epitome of being a disciple of Christ
• Never fully understand until judgment

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Similar Passages

• Matthew 2531-46, Sheep vs. Goats
• Hungry, Thirsty, Stranger, Naked, Prison
• Vs. 40/45,Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as
  you did (not do) it to one of the least of these
  My brethren, you did (not do) it to Me.
• Matthew 101-15, Limited Commission
• Matthew 108, freely you have received, freely
  give
• What were they to freely give?
• Answer, Matthew 10 7-8

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The Challenge

• What has God freely given us?
• Material thingsYes!
• What about the intangibles?
• Life, Love, Salvation, Forgiveness, Grace,
  Fellowship, the Word, the Church, Faith,
  Encouragement, ETERNAL LIFE!!
• What can we freely give?
• Matthew 108, freely ye have received, freely
  give
• Acts 2035, more blessed to give than to
  received

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The Challenge, cont.

• What can we freely give?
• Material things, Yes
• What about the intangibles?
• Life, Love, Salvation, Forgiveness, Faith, etc.
• Ephesians 432, be ye kind one to another,
  tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
  for Christs sake hath forgiven you.
• Colossians 315-16, Let the peace of God rule in
  your hearts, to which also you were called in one
  body and be thankful. Let the word of Christ
  dwell in you richly in all wisdomWhat ever you
  do in word or deed do all in the name of the
  Lord.
• Are we up to the challenge?

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Conclusion of the Whole Matter

• Return to text
• Acts 2035, remember the words of the Lord
  Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give
  than to receive
• The intangibles will be returned
• Luke 637-38, Judge not, and you shall not be
  judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be
  condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  Give, and it will be given to you good measure,
  pressed down, shaken together, and running over
  will be put into your bosom. For with the same
  measure that you use, it will be measured back to
  you.

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Its More Blessed to GiveActs 2017-38