The Whole Will Of God

“For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God." Acts 20:27

Paul’s goodbye to the Ephesian elders is one of the more emotional scenes in scripture (Acts 20:13-38). They kneel down and pray together. They weep. They embrace. They kiss. They grieve. They are at a loss as they try to imagine the future. But before this outpouring of emotion, Paul spoke frankly to the elders about his ministry with them.

His ministry was validated by his lifestyle. “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you. . . I served the Lord with great humility and with tears.”

His ministry was bold. “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.”

His ministry was impartial. “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

His ministry was Spirit-led. “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”

His ministry endured hardships and uncertainty. “I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.” “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”

His ministry was balanced. “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”

His ministry was encouraging. “Be shepherds of God’s flock.” “I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”

His ministry was not motivated by greed. “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.”

Every time I read this passage I am humbled by Paul’s model of ministry. From time to time I reflect on what is the most difficult part of Paul’s ministry to emulate. My answer varies depending on what I might be dealing with at any given time. Today, my answer would be balance — proclaiming the whole will of God. What a temptation it is to get locked onto your favorite subject or portion of scripture and neglect others. As I was doing some readings in the Old Testament last week I was reminded how easy it is to be imbalanced.

For example, how many of us are familiar with the story of Nadab and Abihu? “Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord’ (Leviticus 10:1-2). It’s all so familiar, isn’t it — strange fire, fire from the presence of the Lord, dying before the Lord?

But how many of us have ever heard a sermon on Hezekiah celebrating the Passover? “Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the Lord. Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God--the Lord, the God of his fathers--even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.’ And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people” (2 Chronicles 30:17-20). Would you agree this passage is as unfamiliar as the previous one is familiar?

Next week I may return to praying for boldness or humility, but today my prayer is for balance — that I may proclaim the whole counsel of God. Would you please join me in that prayer?!

— Bob Clark

5/25/2004