Text: Acts 19:8-41 Cosperville Baptist Church
Series: Journey With The Early Church: Pastor Jim Barnes
Topic: Evangelism, Preaching, Discipleship February 23, 2014
“Impacting Our Town For Christ!”
Intro:
IF OUR CHURCH CLOSED ITS DOORS, WOULD WE BE MISSED?
WOULD THERE BE A HOLE / A VOID IN OUR COMMUNITY IF OUR LIGHT WENT OUT?
WOULD ANYONE NOTICE?
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. THAT IS A SOBERING THOUGHT.
THE TITLE FOR THIS SERMON IS:
“Impacting Our Town For Christ!”
If you have your Bible, please turn with me to Acts 19. This morning we want to look at a little larger section. In Verses 8-41 we will see the impact the Gospel has on the city of Ephesus.
I WANT YOU TO SEE:
4 Ways We Can Impact Our Town Through The Gospel.
HOW CAN WE IMPACT OUR TOWN THROUGH THE GOSPEL?
HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST HERE IN NOBLE COUNTY, INDIANA?
THE FIRST WAY WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN IS TOO:
I. Proclaim Jesus To Our Town (Acts 19:8-10).
THIS IS SEEN IN ACTS 19:8-10.
Acts 19:8-10 says, “9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”
I WANT YOU TO NOTICE 3 TRUTHS ABOUT PROCLAIMING JESUS TO OUR TOWN.
THE FIRST TRUTH IS SIMPLY TOO:
A. Tell People Who Jesus Is And What He Has Done.
Acts 19:8 says, “And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
Paul usually went first to the synagogue – the Jewish place of worship.
WHAT DID HE DO?
It says, “He spoke bodly.”
This means, “To speak openly about something and with complete confidence” (Loud and Nida).
In some languages it can mean, “To speak without fearing’ or ‘to speak without worrying” (Loud and Nida).
IF YOUR GREATEST REASON FOR NOT SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS IS YOUR FEAR – TAKE HEART – GOD CAN GIVE YOU THE COURAGE TO SPEAK “BOLDLY” FOR CHRIST.
WHAT IS HIS MESSAGE?
Verse 8 says it was, “The Kingdom of God.”
Paul spoke boldly about the kingdom of God.
“If you compare Acts 28:30 and 31, you'll see the things concerning the Kingdom of God are the things concerning Jesus Christ as well. So he spoke about God's rule and God's Kingdom and especially as it related to Jesus Christ” (MacArthur, Acts).
HOW DID HE SPEAK? WHAT WAS HIS METHOD?
Acts 19:8 says, “He was reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”
HE REASONED WITH THEM - This comes from the word from which we get, “Dialogue.” It means, “To reason, argue or debate” (Loud and Nida).
“He preached argumentatively: he disputed; gave reasons, scripture-reasons, for what he preached, and answered objections, for the convincing of men’s judgments and consciences, that they might not only believe, but might see cause to believe” (Matthew Henry).
HE PURSUADED THEM – He was passionate about what he spoke. He believed the message about Jesus and it came across in his delivery.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.”
WE CAN NEVER ARGUE SOMEONE INTO HEAVEN. GOD MUST OPEN THEIR EYES TO THE TRUTH – BUT HE USES US AS WE SHARE THE GOSPEL.
What this means is that Paul talked with them, took questions, and argued persuasively from the Bible.
Notice Paul did this for 3 months!
He was patient. He talked to them about the Bible – answered their questions.
As long as people are willing to listen – we should be speaking!
DON’T BE AFRAID TO BRING UP ETERNAL MATTERS, HEAVEN, SALVATION, OR JESUS.
“It has been estimated that probably 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ” (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations).
WE MUST FIND WAYS TO BRING JESUS INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS.
“So whenever you get an opportunity to talk to someone about spiritual matters, seek to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner needs to know who Jesus is and what He did. Don’t hesitate, out of fear of giving offense, to confront the sinner and warn him of impending judgment. He needs to feel his guilt so that he realizes his need for a Savior. And, don’t fail to offer God’s grace and forgiveness to everyone who will repent” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-11-how-proclaim-gospel-acts-311-26).
Bring the gospel into the situation.
THE SECOND TRUTH IS TOO:
B. Realize People Reject God Not You.
Acts 19:9 says, “But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.”
PEOPLE CAN BECOME STUBBORN AND CONTINUE IN THEIR UNBELIEF.
THEY ARE HARDENED IN THEIR UNBELIEF THE MORE THEY REJECT JESUS.
What did they do?
It says they were, “Speaking evil of the Way before the congregation…”
THE WAY = “A common expression in the Acts for the Christian religion.”
THEIR UNBELIEF WAS EXPRESSED IN OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL.
So, if people spurn the Gospel – remember they are not rejecting you (It may feel like that) but ultimately they are rejecting the Lord.
Romans 8:7 says, “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God.”
THEY DID NOT WANT TO LISTEN ANYMORE. THEIR HEARTS WERE HARDENED.
THE THIRD TRUTH IS:
C. Don’t Stop Witnessing.
Paul did not let opposition stop him from talking about Jesus.
Acts 19:9-10 says, “He withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”
Instead of giving up – he leaves the synagogue and goes to the hall of Tyrannus.
This was a lecture hall.
Historians say that Paul taught from 11am till 4pm each day – people would rest each day at that time. So he would work in the morning, take a break and teach and then go back to making tents in the evening.
Verse 10 says that he did this for two years!
That is persistence.
So much so that, “All the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”
NOT EVERYONE BECAME A BELIEVER – BUT JESUS WAS KNOWN!
HE WAS MADE KNOWN BY PAUL BOLDLY TELLING PEOPLE OF WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE!
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH – AND YOUR MISSION AS A CHRISTIAN.
Romans 13:11-12 tells us, “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
“Time is very precious. Every single day, 600,000 souls die and enter eternity. We must use our time wisely” (Mark Cahill, One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven).
Illustration:
Think about it this way. I like how one evangelist puts the importance of proclaiming Jesus.
If I threw a birthday party for you where every guest would receive $100,000 in cash and a Mercedes convertible, and I gave you fifty tickets to your party, how many people would you have at your party?
No doubt, you would have fifty people. In fact, if on the way to your party you realized that you had a ticket remaining in your pocket, and you say a homeless man, you would give him your extra ticket.
Isn’t that similar to what God has done for us? He has given us a pocket of tickets, and it is our job to hand out ticket after ticket to a place called heaven (The One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven, Mark Cahill).
Application:
Friend, you have a pocket full of tickets – seek to give them out – proclaim Jesus and his salvation – talk to people about eternal life.
It is a sobering thought to think about how many Christians are going to die and stand in front of God with a pocket full of tickets to heaven.
THE SECOND WAY WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN THROUGH THE GOSPEL IS TOO:
II. Know Jesus, Don’t Just Use Jesus In Our Town (Acts 19:11-16).
WE SEE TWO EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO KNEW JESUS VERSES THOSE WHO USED JESUS.
THE FIRST EXAMPLE WE SEE IS:
A. The Example Of Paul (Vs. 11-12).
How did God use Paul? He used Paul to do miracles that confirmed the message of the Gospel.
Acts 19:11 says, “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul…”
THESE WERE “EXTRAORDINARY” MIRACLES?
ARE THINGS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARY – THINGS THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY?
NO, IN FACT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MIRACLES – THIS IS WHY THEY ARE MIRACLES – THEY DON’T HAPPEN EVERY DAY. THESE MIRACLES WERE, “EXTRAORDINARY.”
WHY?
GOD DID MIRACLES THROUGH PAUL – EVEN WHEN HE WAS NOT EVEN PRESENT.
Acts 19:12 says, “So that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.”
THERE ARE TEACHERS OUT THERE THAT WOULD CLAIM – THAT IF YOU SEND MONEY TO THEM – THEY WILL SEND YOU A MIRACLE HANKY OR A PROSPERITY CLOTH – YOU WILL BE HEALED OR GET RICH.
THIS IS NOT TRUE FOLKS. WE ARE NOT TO EXPECT THESE KINDS OF MIRACLES TODAY.
WE ARE NOT TO THINK THIS IS A NORMAL PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
WHY? IT IS BECAUSE THE MIRACLES GOD DID IN THE BOOK OF ACTS SERVED TO CONFIRM THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS AND IN PAUL’S CASE GIVE EVIDENCE THAT HE IN FACT WAS AN APOSTLE.
Just this past week a couple in Pennsylvania who had lost two children to pneumonia a couple of years apart face almost 20 years in prison.
Why? They believed in faith healing and would not seek medical attention for their children.
In the article it said, “The Schaibles are the rare couple to lose a second child that way. Their pastor, Nelson Clark, blamed Kent's death on a "spiritual lack" in the parents' lives, and insisted they would never seek medical care, even if another child was dying” (MSN).
THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE DAMAGING TEACHING THAT TEACHES THAT GOD STILL HEALS PEOPLE THE WAY HE DID THROUGH PAUL IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
THESE MIRACLES WERE, “EXTRAORDINARY” – NOT “ORDINARY” OR “EVERYDAY OCCURANCES.”
THE MIRACLES SERVED TO CONFIRM THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS.
LISTEN: THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD CANNOT OR DOES NOT DO MIRACLES TODAY. HE CAN CHOOSE TO HEAL SOMEONE TODAY IF HE WANTS. BUT DO NOT RUN AFTER MANY OF THESE PHONIES ON TV THAT CLAIM YOU CAN GET A HEALING FROM THEM – IT IS NOT TRUE.
PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE – APOSTLES WERE FOUNDATIONAL TO THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH.
WHEN PAUL DIED, WHEN ALL THE APOSTLES DIED – THIS KIND OF GIFT CEASED.
Hebrews 2:3-4 says, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
“God enabled Paul to perform “special miracles” because Ephesus was a center for the occult (Acts 19:18–19), and Paul was demonstrating God’s power right in Satan’s territory” (BEC).
THESE MIRACLES SHOWED THAT PAUL KNEW GOD – HE SPOKE FOR GOD – AND GOD USED HIM GREATLY TO IMPACT LIVES.
THE SECOND EXAMPLE WE SEE IS:
B. The Example Of The Seven Sons Of Sceva (Vs. 13-16).
Acts 19:13 says, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
HERE WE HAVE 7 JEWISH EXORCISTS – THE ONLY TIME THIS WORD IS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
THEY THINK THAT THEY COULD, “ENVOKE THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” AND CAST OUT DEMONS. USE JESUS’ NAME LIKE A GOOD LUCK CHARM – A LOT OF CHRISTIANS DO THE SAME THING BY THE WAY.
Notice how they did this.
It says that they would say, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims…”
That is a key phrase, “Whom Paul proclaims…”
They did not know Jesus – they wanted to use Jesus – to cast out demons so they could have money, power, and prestige.
Look at Verses 14-15.
It says, “Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
The NKJV says, “And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
The reason why the ESV and even the NIV uses different words is that they are different words in the original language.
JESUS I KNOW (WORD MEANING, “To know by interaction and experience”).
PAUL I RECOGNIZE OR KNOW (To know about, to understand).
Literally, “The demon said, “Jesus I recognize, and Paul I am acquainted with; but who are you?” (BEC).
“They didn't know Paul nearly as well as they knew Jesus, but the word was out among the demons, believe me. " Paul's a hot item, boys, watch it” (MacArthur, Acts).
BUT THE DEMONS HAD NO CLUE WHO THESE MEN WERE!
WHY DID THE DEMONS NOT KNOW THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA?
THEY DID NOT KNOW THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW JESUS – THEY JUST WANTED TO USE JESUS. THEY MIGHT HAVE BELIEVED IN GOD – KNOWN ABOUT JESUS – KNOWN ABOUT PAUL BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY – THEY HAD NO RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
IT BACKFIRES ON THEM – AND IT IS KIND OF COMICAL.
Acts 19:16 says, “And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
TO MANY PROFESSING CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE THESE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA.
THEY SAY THEY KNOW JESUS – BUT THEY JUST WANT TO USE JESUS.
THEY WANT ALL THE BENEFITS JESUS CAN GIVE BUT DO NOT REALLY KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY – HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS – ARE LIVING FOR JESUS.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
FRIENDS – IF WE WANT TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY – WE MUST KNOW JESUS, NOT JUST KNOW ABOUT HIM OR TRY TO USE HIM FOR OUR BENEFIT. WE MUST TRULY KNOW HIM.
Illustration:
Fan magazines help us answer this question.
Adoring fans of movie, TV, music, or sports stars buy thousands of dollars’ worth of information, photos, and juicy tidbits.
After poring over such material, the fans feel as if they really know their heroes. But do they? They may know certain facts about their chosen hero. They may be able to cite birth date, favorite color, and childhood pets, but, if they were to meet that person face to face, what would the hero say?
Does the fan really know the hero?
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/knowing-Jesus.html#ixzz2thyVOqH4
THE TIME I WAS IN OHARE AND SAW THE GUY FROM EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER. I WAS LIKE HEY TY….AS IF HE KNEW ME.
Application:
LET ME ASK YOU A SERIOUS QUESTION. DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?
DO THE DEMONS KNOW YOUR NAME BECAUSE YOU ARE LIVING FOR JESUS – PROCLAIMING HIS GOSPEL OR ARE YOU NOT EVEN ON THEIR RADAR?
THE THIRD WAY WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN IS TOO:
III. Show Your Life Has Been Transformed To Our Town (Acts 19:17-20).
Acts 19:17 says, “And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.”
THE RESIDENT OF EPHESUS WERE FILLED WITH FEAR.
IT WAS NOT A FEAR OF DEMONS – BUT THE FEAR OF GOD.
AND AS A RESULT - THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS WAS “EXTOLLED.”
EXTOLLED – Means, “To exalt” or “Honor” (Loud and Nida).
It means, “To show respect to a person on the basis of the importance of such an individual.”
The NIV says, “The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”
HOW WAS THE NAME OF JESUS HONORED?
IT WAS HONORED IN THE TRANSFORMED LIVES OF THESE NEW BELIEVERS.
Acts 19:18-19 says, “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.”
“The word "believed," and it could mean those who had already believed and had already been Christians but had never given up their magic, or it could mean those who were then saved and then came and confessed. Either possibility. But anyway, these people who believed came, confessed, and divulged their practices” (MacArthur, Acts).
THEY WERE GRIPPED BY GOD – GOD’S SON – JESUS CHRIST.
IN FACT THE WAY IT IS WORDED MEANS, “THEY KEPT COMING!”
SO MUCH SO THAT THEY REPENTED AND SHOWED IT BY CONFESSING – ADMITTING THEIR MAGIC WAS SINFUL AND EVIL BUT ALSO DIVULGING THEIR PRACTICES.
“According to magic theory, the only good spell is the one that's secret, and once you divulge the secret, the spell's no good. So everybody came and told all the secrets. They were giving up all their magic. Giving it up. The whole satanic game was over. They saw the truth of the power of Jesus; and they saw that magic didn't work, and in comparison to His name it was absolutely impotent” (MacArthur, Acts).
Not only that look at Verse 19 – there was a revival and people were coming to faith in Christ.
It says, “And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
IN AN ACT OF SHOWING THEY WERE SORRY FOR THEIR SIN – THEY BURNED THEIR MAGIC BOOKS.
The “books” (biblous) could refer to large books or small scrolls of papyri on which oaths or curses were written. These were worn as amulets. The huge price shows (1) how superstitious these people were and (2) how the gospel had set them free!” (Luke the Historian: Acts).
“All their magical arts, all the gimmicks and formulas and all the paraphernalia, they burned. All the scrolls, all the secret formulas, they burned them. And the interesting thing, the word "burned" is imperfect. They kept on burning. I don't know how long the bonfire lasted. But they kept burning. You say, "How much is 50,000 pieces of silver?" With inflation and all of that, I couldn't begin to tell you. Drachmas. But maybe somewhere between 25,000 and 50,000 would be a start” (MacArthur, Acts).
Paul said in Acts 26:19-20, “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”
SO WE ARE CALLED TO CONFESS OUR SIN, TURN AWAY FROM IT – AND LIVE DIFFERENTLY AS A RESULT.
FRIENDS – LET ME BE FRANK WITH YOU.
SOME OF YOU, NOT ALL OF YOU – SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN BUT YOU ARE NOT LIVING LIKE IT.
YOU ARE HOLDING ONTO SIN, LIVING IN KNOWN SIN – YOU NEED TO CONFESS IT AND RENOUNCE IT.
SATAN OFTEN KEEPS PEOPLE CAPTIVE WHEN THEY TRIE TO FIGHT IT ON THEIR OWN – AND DO NOT RENOUNCE THEIR SIN AND MAKE A DEFINITIVE BREAK.
Romans 13:12-14 says, “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
1 John 1:7 says, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
WE ARE CALLED TO WALK IN HIS LIGHT – LETTING GOD EXPOSE THE SIN IN OUR LIVES SO WE WALK IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND PEOPLE SEE THE TRANSFORMATION THAT THE GOSPEL HAS BROUGHT INTO OUR LIVES.
WHY WERE LIVES CHANGED?
LIVES WERE CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD OF THE LORD. THIS IS WHY PREACHING AND TEACHING THE BIBLE IS VITAL TO THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL.
Notice Verse 20 says, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
THE WORD WAS INCREASING! – THE WAY IT IS WORDED MEANT IT KEPT INCREASING!
MEANING PEOPLE GOT SAVED AND TRUSTED IN JESUS.
God says in Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
AS WE ARE FAITHFUL TO PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD – GOD WILL BRING THE INCREASE. GOD WILL SAVE PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS – SET THEM FREE!
GOD WILL GIVE THE INCREASE – AMEN?
Acts 6:7 says, “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem…”
THE WORD WAS INCREASING - PEOPLE WERE SAVED AND ADDED TO THE FAMILY OF GOD AND TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS.
THE WORD WAS PREVAILING ON PEOPLE’S HEARTS!
In other words, lives were being changed!
Application:
IF YOU AND I WANT TO BE A CHURCH THAT IMPACTS OUR TOWN / OUR COUNTY FOR JESUS CHRIST – WE MUST SEEK TO LIVE TRANSFORMED LIVES.
WE MUST START GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING HOLY LIVES – CONFESSING OUR SINS – AND LIVING LIVES THAT WOULD BRING JESUS THE HONOR AND GLORY HE DESERVES.
THE FOURTH WAY WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN IS TOO:
IV. Cause A Stir For God In Our Town (Acts 19:21-41).
Look what happens in the city of Ephesus.
The impact of the Gospel caused quite the stir in the city of Ephesus.
Acts 19:21-23 says, “Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.”
Paul felt the church in Ephesus was doing well so now he determined to go to Rome through Jerusalem.
But before he leaves Ephesus it says in Verse 23 says, “There arose no little disturbance concerning the Way…”
THE WAY = “A common expression in the Acts for the Christian religion: “the characteristic direction of life as determined by faith on Jesus Christ” (F. B. Meyer).
THE GOSPEL HAD CAUSED A “DISTURBANCE” BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TURNING AWAY FROM IDOLATRY AND TURNED IN FAITH TO JESUS CHRIST.
Acts 19:24 now says, “For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.”
Demetrius made, “Silver shrines” to Artemis.
EPHESUS WAS A CITY THAT MADE A LOT OF MONEY THROUGH IDOLATRY AND THAT WAS BEING THREATENED BY THE GOSPEL.
“Ephesus is the capital of the Roman province of Asia. It had a population of half a million people. It was the center of commerce for the whole of Asia Minor, and a focal point for both Greek and Roman religion. There are three temples in Ephesus in honor of the emperor, but the most important temple is to the Roman goddess Artemis, whose Greek name is Diana. Her grotesque image is ablack meteorite carved into the shape of a many-breasted fertility goddess. Her temple is one of the seven wonders of the world—four times the size of the Parthenon in Athens, with 127 graceful columns and a white marble roof” (The Bible Guide).
It is important to note that, “A flourishing trade surrounds the worship of Artemis. Magic charms and little scrolls of spells were sold, to bring good luck in love and business” (The Bible Guide).
“Miniature shrines were made as souvenirs and amulets; most of the ones we know about were terra cotta, so Demetrius seems to be gathering other shrine makers, rather than other silverworkers. Small gold and silver images of Artemis weighing three to seven pounds were also made to be dedicated in her temple” (IVP Commentary).
NOW, DEMETRIUS WAS MAYBE THE HEAD OF THE IDOL MAKERS – HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF BUSINESS TO SEND TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MADE THESE IDOLS.
SO HE DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT – HE DECIDES TO GET A CROWD TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL.
Now “Demetrius did not have any trouble getting a crowd together because they were celebrating the Artemis festival (called “Artemesia”), a month of debauchery during which pilgrims came from everywhere to participate in athletic contests, drink, carouse, and have a ritual fling with prostitutes” (Preaching The Word: Acts).
Acts 19:25-27 says, “These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
DEMETRIUS TELLS THEM THAT OUR BUSINESS IS THREATENED BY THIS GOSPEL. THEY ALL STOOD TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT HE TELLS THEM THAT – OUR GOD ARTEMIS IS THREATENED BY THIS GOSPEL!
“The worship of Artemis is known to have been practiced in at least thirty-three places in the ancient world” (Wycliffe).
“Wherever the Gospel is preached in power, it will be opposed by people who make money from superstition and sin. As more and more people got converted, fewer and fewer customers were available” (Bible Exposition Commentary).
HOW DOES THE CROWD REACT?
THEY GRAB TWO OF PAUL’S COMPANIONS – SHOUTING GREAT IS ARTEMIS!
Acts 19:28-34 says, “When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
IT WAS A MOB – SOME DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHY THEY WERE THEIR BUT THEY WERE SWEPT UP IN THE MOMENT.
IMAGINE – FOR TWO HOURS THEY SHOUTED THIS!
SO FINALLY THE CLERK GETS THE CROWD TO QUIET DOWN.
Acts 19:35-39 says, “And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.”
GOD WAS IN CONTROL.
“At the perfect psychological moment, when the crowd had shouted itself out, a pagan city official, a stickler for law and order, brought the mob to its senses” (Preaching the Word: Acts).
HE USES A CLERK TO GET THE MOB TO STOP THE INSANITY.
HE TELLS THEM –
• EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS HOW GREAT ARTEMIS IS – THAT IS NOT TRUE BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY BELIEVED. IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND HER.
• PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING PUNISHABLE – THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN ANY LAWS.
• HE ENCOURAGES THEM TO TAKE IT TO THE COURTS IF THEY WISH TO PURSUE THIS FURTHER.
WHY DOES THIS WORK?
It calms them down because they realized that if they continued rioting, then Rome might crack down on them.
Verses 40-41 says, “For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
THE GOSPEL WAS CAUSING A STIR IN THE CITY OF EPHESUS.
PEOPLE’S LIVES WERE BEING CHANGED – SO MUCH SO THAT THE IDOLATRY BUSINESS WAS IN DANGER OF CLOSING. PEOPLE WHO MADE MONEY OFF OF IDOL WORSHIP AND IMMORALITY – WERE UPSET.
THEY TOOK NOTICE!
THE GOSPEL HAS DONE THIS MORE THAN ONCE THROUGH REVIVALS THAT GOD HAS SENT.
“In the Welsh revival that occured around the turn of the 20th century, 100,000 outsiders were added to the churches.
"Drunkenness was immediately cut in half, and many taverns went bankrupt. Crime was so diminished that judges were presented with white gloves signifying that there were no cases of murder, assault, rape or robbery or the like to consider. The police became ‘unemployed’ in many districts." This is the best part… " Stoppages occurred in coal mines, not due to unpleasantness between management and workers, but because so many foulmouthed miners became converted and stopped using foul language that the horses which hauled the coal trucks in the mines could no longer understand what was being said to them, and transportation ground to a halt” (Sermoncentral.com).
WOULDN’T THAT BE GREAT?
• IF THE LIQUOR STORE IN TOWN HAD TO CLOSE DUE TO A LACK OF CUSTOMERS?
• OR THE GENTLEMAN’S CLUBS HAD TO FOLD BECAUSE NO ONE WAS VISITING THERE ANYMORE?
• OR HOLLYWOOD & THE TV INDUSTRY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR PROGRAMING BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT TUNING INTO THE FILTH THAT THEY PROMOTE NOW?
Colossians 1:5-6 says, “the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth…”
WHAT CAUSED THIS STIR – THE GOSPEL BEARING FRUIT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
THE CHANGE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES WAS CAUSING THE STIR IN THE CITY OF EPHESUS.
PAUL DID NOT PICKET THE SILVERSMITHS. PAUL DID NOT HAVE A RALLY PROTESTING ARTEMIS.
NO – HE SIMPLY PROCLAIMED THE LIFE CHANGING GOSPEL OF CHRIST – AMEN?
MAYBE GOD WOULD GIVE US REVIVAL SO WE CAN CAUSE A STIR RIGHT HERE IN WAWAKA – IN NOBLE COUNTY, INDIANA?
SOMETIMES WE THINK, MAYBE I THINK, WE ARE NOT REALLY HAVING AN IMPACT.
BUT WE ARE MAKING AN IMPACT – CAUSING PEOPLE TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHAT GOD IS DOING HERE.
WE SEE THIS MORNING HOW GOD IS USING THIS CHURCH IN THE LIVES OF ___________________FAMILY WHO JOINED TODAY.
WE ARE CAUSING A STIR – MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE TAKE THE GOSPEL OUTSIDE OF THESE FOUR WAYS AND SEEK TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN.
Application:
WHETHER IT IS THE SPORTSMAN’S BANQUET, THE EASTER EGG HUNT, OR TRUNK –N- TREAT – GOD USES THESE THINGS TO IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES FOR ETERNITY.
What Are The 4 Ways We Can Impact Our Town Through The Gospel?
WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN WITH THE GOSPEL IS WE:
I. Proclaim Jesus To Our Town.
II. Know Jesus, Don’t Just Use Jesus In Our Town.
III. Show Your Life Has Been Transformed To Our Town.
IV. Cause A Stir For God In Our Town.
Application:
HELP US MAKE AN IMPACT THROUGH SPREADING THE GOSPEL.
WE CAN DO THIS IN TWO WAYS –
• GIVE FINANCIALLY SO WE CAN ENSURE OUR MINISTRIES CONTINUE. WE NEED EVERY FAMILY TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO BE GIVING TO THE LORD FOR THE MINISTRY.
• SPEAK TO SOMEONE THIS WEEK ABOUT THE GOSPEL – BRING UP SALVATION IN A CONVERSATION. SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOU.
• GET INVOLVED WITH OUR SPORTSMANS BANQUET -
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER – BUY YOUR TICKETS – PRAY WITH US FOR FRUIT – LEARN TO BE TRAINED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.
