Acts 19:8-41
When God’s Word Grows
My
favorite Animated movie is the Disney Classic – Beauty and the Beast. – Seen it
a dozen times
A)Not even sure why I like
it – I just do – special memories – little – my kids all wide eyed.
B)My favorite scene in the
movie is when the beast seeking to bless Bell –
who loves books
1)He shows her the Library.
C)Pulls back the curtain –
her eyes light up –
D)At that moment – I always
think of Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.”
E)This my thought – Sanctuary – Library – 1,000’s of books – Some
where is a Bible
1)Only book in this room
that you could this about – it is Living and Powerful – sharper – transform
You
could say of other books – Insightful – changed my way of thinking – changed my
attitude about…
A)But the Bible is a book
that doesn’t just change thoughts and attitudes, and perspectives
B)It
transforms the heart – Cuts deep into the soul – exposes – what is wrong – does
surgery
1)It ministers healing –
C)It is alive – living – it is powerful to change a person fully
– Mind /soul /spirit
1)Because – It is the word
of God
D)Not just words on a page – but words oozing with life
and power because – it comes from God’s heart
In
our study this morning we are going to see the impact that the word of God had
on the city of Ephesus.
A)In doing so we will draw
some parallel conclusions concerning it’s affect in
our lives.
B)The title of the message
is When God’s word grows -PRAY
Last
week began looking at Paul’s ministry in the City
of Ephesus.
A)Recall that Ephesus was One of the largest and most impressive cities in the
ancient world,
B)It was a
political, religious, and commercial center in Asia Minor.
C)At the time of
Paul, Ephesus was probably the fourth largest city in the Roman empire - with a
population estimated at 250,000.
But
Ephesus was heavily influenced by the worship of a goddess of fertility whom
they identified with the Greek goddess Artemis, the virgin huntress.
A)Later the
Romans identified Artemis with their goddess Diana.)
B)In our study
last time we saw that when Paul came to this city – he met 12 guys he thought
were disciples of Jesus – Luke identifies them that way.
C)But something was missing –
Paul asked – Have you been baptized in the spirit. –
1)Not only had they not been baptized in the Spirit they were not
saved yet.
D)Paul preached
Jesus – they were saved and baptized in the Spirit that day.
E)NOTE: The work of God in Ephesus
began with a move of the Holy Spirit. –
1)Always best – Holy Spirit touching working on hearts
Holy Spirit continued to word thru the word.
RD V.8-20
Note v.20 again -So the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.
A)Consider this morning -
WHY did this happen? & HOW did this happen?
B)4 observations to make
note of
#1
Paul faithfully ministered the Word of God for 2 plus years.
#2 The Word of God went
forth and God manifested His power confirming it.
#3 The believers CAME
CLEAN concerning secret sin.
#4 The Believers CUT TIES
with their past.
#1
Paul faithfully ministered the Word of God for 2 plus years. V.8- 10
V.8 And he went into the synagogue and
spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things
of the kingdom of God.
A)As always, Paul started in the synagogue, and in Ephesus he had one of
his longest hearings—three months
B)So
there was more openness in Ephesus than most places where Paul preached –
1)
The openness for some didn’t last long however.
V. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke
evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the
disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
C)HARDENED The verb here
is PASSIVE.
1)That means that the act of being hardened is something that
happens to them.
Think
of it this way: If you put clay in the
sun, something happens to the clay.
A)The clay becomes
HARDENED.
B)But If you put
wax in the sun, something happens to the wax. It is SOFTENED.
C)In both cases
the action is PASSIVE.
1)The same OBJECT, heat, is being exerted upon the two objects.
D)Now The
DIFFERENCE in the PASSIVE response (hardening or melting) is due to the
MATERIAL that the heat is working upon.
The
Same thing applies to the word of God
A)Two people can come and listen to the Word of God.
B)They are BOTH
being subjected to the same influence, but the RESULT is DIFFERENT.
1) One is SOFTENED and the other is HARDENED.
C)Why is that ?
– Two reasons – 1st is Conviction – a lot of people don’t like it
when God’s word messes with their lives.
D)They will
listen with open ears – until something is brought up that strikes a nerve with
how they are living –
1)Suddenly it is Wait a second- I don’t like
this
I
get this all the time I loved it Pastor Rob what you were talking about today -
PREACH IT – great message – wish my brother here to hear that
A)Then the
message is shared – that deals with their sin/ issues / their lives – different
story!
2nd
reason is Response.
A)If you LISTEN
to the Word of God without RESPONDING to it and without BELIEVING it, the
result is that you become hardened.
B)God’s word is
meant to be acted upon. – that is how growth happens – fruit takes place – not
just for information –
C)You want the
word of God to grow in your life – Act on it – believe the promise – apply the
exhortation – HS – help me –
D)Put it into
practice and watch what God does! –
So
once again Paul leaves the Synagogue and goes to the School of Tyrannus –
A)Interesting
name – it actually means Tyrant.
B)Since most
Scholars can’t imagine parents naming their kid – a Tyrant – unless he got the
nick name in terrible twos –
C)Baby comes out
– one look – name – Tyrant –
1)Just looking for trouble
Most
scholars believe this was a nick name his students – gave him that stuck and
his school became known as the Tyrants School.
A)Weird
Celebrities Baby names
B)Frank Zappa's
four children were named Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.
C)Sylvester
Stallone – Sage Moonblood Stallone.
1) Forest Whitaker – Ocean Whitaker
2) Nicolas Cage – Kal –El
3) Jason Lee – Pilot Inspektor
D)Two all time
weirdest - A British couple in Kent, England chose this
name for their baby
Depressed Cupboard Cheesecake..
E)Sunshine Deathray. – Cover
both extremes – being good – come here Sunshine – Bad –get over here Deathray.
People
in Bible times weren’t as weird or Creative as we are today. – Tyrannus –
nickname students
A)Anyway – Paul
ended using that space to teach the word.
B)One Greek manuscript adds
a touch which sounds like the additional detail an eye-witness might bring.
1)
It says that Paul taught in that hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
C)The
reason for that was it had become the custom in those ancient cities that all
work would stop around 11am – because of the Heat – No AC –
D)People would go home and
eat and sleep until about 4:00 – where they would return to work and work until
9 or 10 in the evening.
E)Historians tells us that
there would actually be more people sound asleep in Ephesus at 1 p.m. than at 1
a.m.
I
find that interesting for two reasons
A)#1 It shows the eagerness
of Paul to teach and the eagerness of the Christians to learn.
B)#2
It shows the believers and Paul were willing to sacrifice comfort and
convenience in order to give the Word of God an opportunity to grow in their
lives.
C)When others were resting –
they seized the opportunity to learn and to grow.
Result 10 And this
continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the
Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
So Paul was preaching daily – people
were growing and the word of God was spreading - all who dwelt in Asia heard the
word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks
Remember
in Ch. 16 Paul wanted to go to Ephesus
– he was forbidden –by the HS wrong
time!
A)Well now it
was the right time -
B)Greg Laurie said – Effective ministry takes place when you have the right
person at the right place at the right time.
C)It was the right time for
Paul to be in Ephesus.
1)God was blessing – the
region was impacted.
So
the word of God grew and was prevailing
because Paul was being faithful to share the word – 2 plus years
A)#2 The Word of God grew
mightily and prevailed because The Word of God went forth and God manifested His
power confirmed it. V.11-12
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so
that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and
the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
B)This advance of the gospel
was accompanied by unusual miracles.
1)The
Greek says, “miracles not of an ordinary kind.”
C)Some
were direct, coming
through the hands of Paul. 1)Others were indirect,
being somehow mediated through articles of Paul’s clothing that, when applied
to the ill, brought healing.
The
handkerchiefs spoken of here were actually the sweatbands Paul wore around his
forehead when he labored as a tentmaker.
A)The aprons were not the
kind June Cleaver wore in the kitchen.
B)They were the leather
aprons of a blacksmith.
1)Why were Paul’s sweatbands and aprons used
for healing?
Remember
the woman with the issue of Blood?
A)If I can just touch the
hem ….. there wasn’t any power in the hem of Jesus garment
B)But the hem served as a
point of Contact that triggered her faith.
1)I
believe these sweatbands and Aprons – were the same way.
C)Same
idea in the practice of Anointing with oil and laying on of hands – points of
contact to trigger faith.
D)God
condescends to meet us in our weakness where he can reach us.
SO
God was moving in an unusual way in Ephesus
A)He does that –
Jesus pp movement – transcends the generations – Old young – hippie business man
B)Today we are
segregating again. – Venues /Churches
1)We need
another fresh out pouring of the HS
Another
sign -
A)Predictably,
the gospel’s initial success led to others trying to get in on the act. An interesting thing takes place.
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon
themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits,
saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also
there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
B)Now
in those days, there were “ exorcist who went around like gypsies – dealing
with Spirit’s exorcists
1)They
collected a fee whether or not they were successful.
C)It was a Racket and the Sons of a Jewish chief priest- Wanted in on the action. -
D)They treated
Paul’s words as a magic charm or spell to drive the evil spirits out.
1)I love what happens
15 And the evil spirit answered and
said, "Jesus I know, Ginosko – by experience and Paul I know; acquainted with
– servant of Jesus but who are
you?"
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit
was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they
fled out of that house naked and wounded.
E)Awesome! Jesus
I know & Paul – but who the heck are you – Does Hell know us? –
prayer/service
These
guys were wounded and traumatized.
So this became
another sign – the word was spreading - V17 This became known
both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and
the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
The Name of the Lord Jesus Was magnified
A)Magnify = To make great.
Purpose of Church – Magnfiy – Jesus – not a man – not CCV – movement
B)It was a
notable victory over the powers of evil in Ephesus.
C)Leads
us to consider the third reason the Word of God grew mightily and Prevailed.
#3 The believers CAME
CLEAN concerning secret sin.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their
deeds.
A)Came is LITERALLY - They kept coming, one after another.
B)This was such
a move of God’s Spirit working through the word – no coexing – no begging
1)Convicted and coming clean – clearing out the closets
Of their hearts
C)Bitterness – sexual
immorality – stealing – occultic practices
1)Confessing – I need prayer – need to repent
#4
The Believers CUT TIES with their past. V.19
“Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together
and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and
it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
A)This is RADICAL - They
brought their books on magic and spells and burned them all.
B)They were BURNING and all
BRIDGES to their past.
C)When did the Word of God
grow and prevail? When the believers burned their junk.
APPLICATION
FOR U 2DAY!
A)If you’re burned-out with
Bible study, prayer, or meditation—chances are it’s because you need to burn
something up.
B)When my appetite is dull,
when I’m not interested in spiritual things the way I once was,
1)when
I find worship a drudge or a discipline—here is what I do – I pray like David
“Father, search me and show me the junk in my life that has
caused my appetite for You to be diminished.”
C)And you know what? He
does.
1)I’ve
been there a many times. Whenever my appetite for the meat of the Word
diminishes, invariably it’s because I’m filling up on the junk food of the
world.
D)And
I am not talking about blatant sin, but simply little distractions that – crowd
my heart.
E)Talking with Nate Jackson
– our Bible teacher –
1)Kids all condemned –
because lack of Devotions
Devotions
stems from the word – Devoted. –
Devoted=
Feeling or displaying strong affection or
attachment
A)If there isn’t
that strong affection – Devotions become duty.
B)I am Devoted to
my wife – because I love her – but there was a time I was more devoted to my
work than her.
C)Our
relationship suffered. – It wasn’t that I loved my work more than her – no way.
1)But I felt
like I needed to be devoted to my work – it was the only way – make progress.
No choice.
D)We always have
a choice – Devotions start with a heart – says –Lord
– I love you – I want to
spend time with you – more than any other thing.
E)Now
when that is my heart – here is the difference my time in the word – whether it
is 5 minutes or 2hrs is rich when my approach is Love for Jesus
1)Because I know
that I am so deeply loved by Jesus.
F)A lot easier
to make time. – Want to –get to / have..
Search
me oh Lord – what has my heart – what am I devoted to more than you. – that is
the issue.
A)Make
adjustments – Cut ties if I have to no matter what the cost
they counted up the value
of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.” 10K by today’s
standards
B) Flush the
drugs – don’t sell – burn the Porn don’t sell it to a buddy -
C)Cut
ties once and for all – no storing it for a rainy day.
So
God’s word was growing mightily and prevailing because:
#1 Paul faithfully
ministered the Word of God for 2 plus years.
#2 The Word of God went
forth and God manifested His power confirming it.
#3 The believers CAME CLEAN concerning secret sin.
#4 The Believers CUT TIES
with their past.
Note
this when God’s word grows there is always another thing that happens - OPPOSITION
A)Summarize for the sake of time v. 21-41 – People are getting
saved turning from idolatry and occultic practices –
B)Those
who were in the idol making Business – and Occult Business – got upset – this
Paul is bad for Business – this Jesus is going to destroy us
C)The
idol of the goddess Diana was unbelievably ugly. 1) Fashioned from a chunk of
black rock believed to have been sent from Jupiter, she was a grotesque-looking multibreasted
female.
D)Yet people came from all
over Asia to worship at the shrine of Diana, the goddess of fertility.
1)Just
like today – they made a killing in the souvenir business, making miniature shrines,
which they sold for big bucks—
E)But
now that was changing – The Word was going forth in Power – Business was slow –
shutting down
In the Welsh Revival of 1901,
under the anointed ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne, so great was the revival
that every tavern and pub in Wales went broke.
A)How
many anti-alcohol sermons did McCheyne deliver? None. How many tirades against
taverns? Zero.
B)People
simply lost all interest in alcohol when they got touched by the Lord and
filled with the Spirit.
C)The same thing happened in
Ephesus. When people got saved, the idol business dried up.
1)Owners
motivated by money – staged an uproar
They
set out to destroy Paul an the ministry of the gospel – Angry mob is put
together
A)Literally
yelled in the town square –for 2hrs –
B)
v.32 says some of the people had no idea why they were there- they are in the
crowd –
1)yelling- Great is Dianna of the Ephesus – cool –
Yea
C)One guy asks his buddy – why are we doing this ? I
have no idea – Great is Diana of the Philistines – 2hrs -
D)Finally one of the city leaders put an end to
it not wanting to draw attention to Rome.
Acts 20:1 “After the
uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and
departed to go to Macedonia.”
Closing: All around us we see people who are miserable—depressed,
discouraged and defeated; A)They are hurting, helpless, and hopeless—like the people in Ephesus
who were diseased in body and demonized in spirit.
B)That is why they were
turning to idols – that is why pp around us get caught up in drugs / Alcohol /
workaholics – hurting – mask the pain.
C)The Pp of Ephesus found
release in the Sweat bands of Paul – point of faith
Those
sweat bands were also symbols of Paul’s love – for them - he was intergrated
into their culture.
A)Working hard –like them –
rubbing shoulders with them. Sweating like them – Bring them Jesus
B)Lonely
hurting – helpless – there is one who loves you so much – wants to
Change your life.
1)His name is Jesus
C)In Garden 2,000 yrs ago –
He sweat drops of blood as He contemplated
the cross -
Why
did He sweat blood? Because He was about to absorb your weaknesses, your
failings, your shortcomings.
A)He was about to pay the
price for every sin I have done, am doing, or ever will do.
B)The band around his
forehead – crown of thorns!
C)Paid the price for your sins – set you free –
make you new and whole –
1)Transform
your life
D)Grasp his love – He will
set you free – depression hopeless –
1)Fill you with his love to
help you love others in a way that will blow your mind.
Pray