THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD

1. “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
2. For I have not shunned to declare to you THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.
3. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
   Acts 20:26-28 (NKJV)

• Ministers and leaders in the church of Christ should know that the blood of the people under their leadership would be required of them, thus they have a responsibility to feed and shepherd the flock of God which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers (Acts 20:28).

• Paul said he did not shun or shrink from declaring all that God wanted the Ephesian Believers to know—the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

• The church of Christ, general assembly of believers in Christ Jesus, was purchased with His blood, hence there is a need to take heed to the flock (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:18,19).

• If a minister of God refuses to deliver the truth of the Word that was given to him, and the people died in their sins; God will hold such a minister responsible for their deaths—their blood would be required at his hand.

1. “If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
2. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed Me.”
   Ezekiel 3:18,19 (NLT)

• It is becoming difficult for some ministers to preach the truth of God’s Word nowadays (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

• If every minister knows they would be held responsible for every soul they shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to; they will do the work committed to their hands differently.

• If a minister knows the importance, seriousness or gravity of the work committed to him—he will not trivialize it.
• The souls of the people under your leadership cost the Lord Jesus His life and it cost God the Father His only Son—therefore you need to pay attention to them (John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18,19).

1. “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by COMPULSION but WILLINGLY, not for DISHONEST GAIN but EAGERLY.
3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK.
4. and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the CROWN OF GLORY that does not fade away.”
   1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!