Who Are You?

Who are you?

Acts 19:1-7, 11-21

Introduction-

This is not a direct at you Fathers day message. Fathers sitting here this morning will have the same opportunity as everyone else to take a look at their lives. Men, we don’t always communicate well. We don’t always listen 100 %. Some times that get us in trouble. Can some one say Amen Women, let me help you. When a man says- “ it would take to long to explain’. He really means “ I have no clue how it works”. When a man says, “Take a break, honey, you are working too hard” He really means- “I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner”. When a man says- “Can I help with dinner?” He really means, “Baby, I’m hungry, isn’t it done yet:” When a man says “I’m not lost, I know exactly where we are”. He really means- if you do not buy me a garman, we will never be seen alive again”. This mornings text is about the

Apostle Paul doing things in the power of God working in his life. It is also about the seven sons of Sceva trying to imitate the power of God in their lives, and the consequences they suffered for it.

Acts 19:1-7, 11-21

If I was to have a journey chart available, at one end was birth and on the other end was the Spirit filled life. On that chart would be a bunch of events that happened in our lives. For those that know Christ, conversion, the day we accepted Christ would be there. For some, they are seekers, not sure yet, all that would be recorded on that chart. Everyone of us would be able to tell, at least in our minds, where we were on that chart. God wants to take us to a new level. Wherever that is for each one of us. Half way serving God is not an option for a believer. Wherever you are at in your journey, and we are all different. He want us to move forward. God takes us to new levels in three ways. 1. Growth process- trial, errors, experiences. 2. Relational- both with God and with people. (Importance of the church family) 3. Maturity- learning from our mistakes, better yet, learning from other peoples mistakes. The city of Ephesus was a corrupt city. It is sin city, it was materialistic, and a city that thrived on statues of all kinds of idols including the fertility god of Artemis. The apostle Paul and his disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit had went on a missionary journey through Athens, Berea, and Corinth. He had been imprisoned several times but they saw the power of God do some amazing things. Now they are in Ephesus and they needed God to do some powerful things in the life of the Ephesians. They come to a group of John the Baptist disciples, and Paul senses that this bunch of men needed the Holy Spirit active in their lives.

19:2- “And finding some disciples he said to them, did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, we have not as much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” John the Baptist taught- repent and be baptized. After conversion, there would be a water baptism. Apostle Paul, after spending time with Jesus knew that it did not stop there. He knew that to live the victorious life that Jesus Christ wanted for each of us, it was repent, be baptized, and filled with the Spirit of God. Paul ran into Jews that did not understand that there is more than just being saved (as important as that is) but that we can be empowered by the Spirit of God to help us in our everyday life.

19:6-7

“And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” They did not understand that Jesus must leave, so the comforter(Holy Spirit) could come in His followers.

The Spirit is involved- there is results.

The Spirit is involved- comfort, strength, wisdom comes.

John the Baptist brought people to a readiness of change. Jesus came to live in them, in the person of the Holy Spirit. John came to ready change. Jesus came to change their lives.

Acts 1:8- “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”

Fathers- your job in life is:

connect with God.

connect with family.

connect with your church family.

If I could build a father- I would put these traits in them. If I would be a good father, I would hope I have these traits in me. Weather, we say it aor not, our children hear (by our actions) follow me. Scripture tells us here that 2 years Paul was in Ephesus and that God did some extraordinary things, so much that even his handkerchief and apron that touched people caused them to be healed. That evil spirits came out of them. Here we go Listen a few more hours.