Acts 20:32-38 – “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Paul states that he “commits” these leaders to God and to the Word of grace. Another way of saying this is that Paul had presented them before God. In Mark 6:39-44 (five loaves and two fishes) and in Mark 8:6-9 (seven loaves and a few small fish) the same word is used. Jesus had prepared a miracle and then presented it to them to consume. He brought the power of God to them. Paul had faithfully ministered to the people and then presented them to the Son of God who would ultimately present them to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). Those who Paul ministered to he presented before Jesus, who is God the Son. They had been taught, and prepared to walk in faith and to instruct others in the faith. Paul has done what he was called to do and now it is their job to do what they have been called to do.
Here, too often, what is taught is that Paul commits them to the Word while not pointing to the most important thing, that he has brought them to God Himself. Family, the Word means nothing to those who reject God (1 Corinthians 2:14). Remember that God called Abram before The Law was given. Before the written Word was God Himself calling and nurturing Abram and his progeny. Before the written Word of God was God having a relationship with Adam. First a person must be brought to God. Now we need to be careful in this understanding because how we lead people to God is by using the Word of God. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the whole Word of God, will use the Word that He inspired to lead people to Him. So we see that we first bring the Holy Spirit within us to others and present the Holy Spirit to others by presenting the Word. The Holy Spirit reveals His Word to souls and thereby they meet God by bringing God within us to reveal the Word of God that God has given to all. First, we bring people to the feet of God and we do that through his Word. But without the presence of God to touch, through His Word, the soul will not come. We must remember that God Himself preceded the written Word of God but that the written Word of God has always been within God and is in full display through Jesus Himself. Here Paul clearly tells the prepared leaders that he has brought them to the God Himself as prepared servants of God and that He has brought them to the living Word of His grace. Both are required. Both are divine, but remember that the written Word only comes alive if we have God Himself and it is the written Word that God uses to bring us and to keep us, and all that by sacrifice of Jesus. Everything starts with God and ends with God (Colossians 1:15-20, Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13). Is God great or is God great!
“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.” Paul came to minister. He came to give to everyone and to build all who would receive. He mentioning his hand was to remind them that he worked for his living, and not only for his, but to help supply the needs of his companions. Paul did come with a displayed palm to receive for himself, but with an open heart to give what he had received from God. What he had received from God He freely gave out (Mathew 10:8).
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”” “It is more blessed to give than receive.” He is not saying that it is not a blessing to receive. Rather Paul is saying that having received, having in possession blessings from God, it is wonderful to be able to freely share what God has freely given to us. If we have, we share. Since God has blessed us spiritually in every way we ought to generously give out what we have received so that God is praised (2 Corinthians 9:11). Why would we not share what we have been given? After all, if God gave, then God will resupply as we freely give away. In fact, the Lord will replenish to the exceeding of the original blessings (Malachi 3:10). Since we are blessed, if we have desire for greater blessing, then with a pure heart give away what we have. Especially this is true spiritually. As we give out what God has given us then God gives us even more. It is well known that the government, and many companies, give a departmental allotment for the year. If the department that receives the allotment wisely spends all the money they were given, then their coffers will be filled back up for the following year. However, if the allotment is not spent, then they may receive less the next year. Jesus wants us to use what was given to us to use and if we do not, then he will take away for us who do not give and give to those who will use it as the Lord has determined. Therefore if you love the blessings of God, and desire more, then give them away and God will replenish, and in greater abundance. (Matthew 25:14-30). Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.” When Paul was finished he knelt down and in front of them all talked with God. He did not pray in secret but for them, in front of them. Family, some do not understand Matthew 6:1-8. The Lord was not telling us that we cannot pray in front of others. He was warning us to pray with a right heart. The intent of our prayer is to praise God, to pray for others and self, and to hear from God. If we pray for show so that we may be praised by men, then that is wrong. But we can pray before the world if our hearts and intent is right. Pray earnestly and God will respond.
These men had broken hearts that they would not see Paul again. We all have Pastors that we love. To be permanently separated from them hurts. These people had been mentored by Paul the Apostle, how hard it must have been to know they would not see him again.
Our God is so much beyond us (Job 36:26). He is wonderfully beyond measure beyond us! And His generosity is inexhaustible! Praise God! Always praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”