In the latter part of his instruction to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:25-35), Paul makes two prophecies. The first was that all of them would see his face no more (v. 25), a statement that brought considerable grief to the elders (v. 38). Their response was evidence of the truth of Paul’s words to them that: 1) he never held back from consistently teaching them the whole counsel of God’s Word, even admonishing them with his tears (vv. 27, 31); and 2) he never asked any material reward from them; but instead they were to help the needy according to Jesus’ exhortation (vv. 33-35). It was a powerful testimony to Paul’s integrity before God and men.
Paul’s second prophecy was even more sobering (vv. 29-30):
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
And from your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
One of the challenging tasks of local church elders to this day is to guard the flock of God from those – even from within – who would teach perverse or crooked things to get a following for themselves. Paul likens them to wolves in that they do not view Jesus’ sheep as members of His church, purchased by His blood to be cared for; but merely as satisfaction for their own wolf-like appetites. What a contrast to the elders who are to be overseers (or bishops) and shepherds (or pastors) of the church of God (v. 28). That means that an important task of a local body of believers, including ours, is to pray persistently that God would raise up elders who are (v. 28): 1) appointed by the Holy Spirit; 2) consistently on guard for themselves – they pay close attention to their own teaching and walk with Christ to be sure it aligns with God’s word; and 3) not in it for themselves, but care for the flock as ones belonging to the God who saved them. Since the words for elder, pastor, and overseer are used interchangeably in the New Testament, I urge us all to make use of the Praying for Your Pastor: 31-Day Guide on behalf of our elders. It is available in the foyer of the worship building.