Acts 20:28, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Christ’s precious blood had purchased the flock at Ephesus, and the Holy Spirit had been made an overseer to guide them. The Apostle Paul passed the Shepherd’s baton to the elders of the flock and with all gravity told them to “take heed!”
Strong’s defines heed as “to hold the mind towards, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to, be given to, have regard.”
- A Shepherd Must Take Heed to Himself.
Your most important ministry is your personal revival ministry. Before you can ever shepherd someone else, you must learn to shepherd yourself. If you are backslidden, carnal, and off-track in relation to Christ ,by default you are leading lead others in the same direction.
Many are the “woes” of Scripture to those who lead God’s flock astray. So take heed to yourself!
1 Timothy 4:16, Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2.) A Shepherd Must Take Heed to the Flock.
Examine Paul’s shepherding of the church in Ephesus: “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31)
Taking heed always and with vigilance – 365 days a year Paul’s mind and heart were upon the flock. Shepherding is not a part-time occupation. It must be done without ceasing.
Take heed to feed – Paul warned the flock, not only in public but also when he was in their private houses (Acts 20:20). A Shepherd looks for every opportunity to feed the flock.
Take heed to lead the flock to Christ – “I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32)
Commend means, “To place alongside, present, to deposit, to set before.”
Paul’s motive for service wasn’t to win people to himself but to lead them and present them to Christ. We don’t unceasingly feed, serve, and watch over the flock for selfish gain but rather to bring the lost to Christ.
Paul explains this same motive to the church at Corinth:
2 Corinthians 11:2, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.