The Transforming Power of Jesus

Today we want to look at the transforming power of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Last week we talked about power in Jesus. Not only is there power in Jesus, but there is transforming power in Jesus.

If you have your Bible, go to Acts 19. We will read the first 20 verses.

Acts 19:1–20 NIV

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

The Gospel Confronts Misunderstanding

Paul is going around preaching and in verse 1 he encounters some believers in Ephesus.

Acts 19:1–2 NIV

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

At the point these believers hadn’t received the whole Gospel message. They didn’t have a full understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:3–4 NIV

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

They had only heard about John’s baptism of repentance. Paul explains to them that Jesus was the fulfillment of John’s message.

There understanding was incomplete.

People today have an incomplete understanding of the Gospel. It is up to you and I to help them see that Jesus is the only way. You may have an incomplete understanding. Today you can understand that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

So, when these believers received a full understanding of the Holy Spirit, they were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today, let me ask you a question. Are you living with partial understanding of the Gospel, or have we fully embraced Christ and the Spirit’s power?

We need to grasp the full understanding of the Gospel message and reap the benefits of what the Gospel message has for us.

The Gospel Compels Bold Proclamation

So, Paul continues on his journey. For two years Paul would preach in a lecture hall at Tyrannus. He wanted to make sure that all the Jews and Greeks in this area understood the Gospel message and its transforming power. There were some that didn’t agree with him.

As a church, we must boldly proclaim the Gospel in the face of opposition. We must trust God that he will open the doors for the Gospel message to be heard.

The Gospel Confirms Divine Authority

During those two years God used Paul in extraordinary ways.

When the power of Jesus is working through you, signs and wonders will follow you.

They would take handkerchiefs that Paul had touched and they would take them to those that were sick and their illnesses were cured and evil spirits would leave those that were afflicted.

There is a divine authority in the Gospel. We must pray and seek the face of God and once we receive a message from the Lord we will see signs and wonders.

I am convinced that we don’t see miracles and wonders because we don’t pray enough. I believe that the church’s prayer life is lacking. We need to get on our hands and knees more.

Look at what happened to those that tried to imitate what Paul did. They wanted the results without the effort.

Acts 19:13–16 NIV

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

We need to be so prayed up that even the demons in hell know our name.

Do you believe in the power of Jesus? Do you believe that it can transform lives? Do you trust in the power of God rather than relying on human methods or superstitions?

If we want to see the power of God move in our church and in our services on a regular basis then we have to pray more. We need to seek after God more. We need to desire the things of God more.

Then enemy will not stay silent. We must go to war with the enemy of God and understand that we have been given the power and authority over the powers of darkness. Do the demons of hell know your name?

When we do this then…

The Gospel Creates Cultural Transformation

The Gospel message not only transforms individual lives but it transforms entire societies.

When we get a hold of the Gospel we will believers openly confessing their sins and seeing a change in believers and unbelievers alike.

There will be a radical lifestyle change. People will turn away from their old life and be transformed by the Gospel of Jesus.

Verse 20 sums up what was happening. Revival was taking place.

Acts 19:20 NIV

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

Acts 19:20 NLT

20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Are we allowing the Gospel to bring transformation to our lives and the culture around us?

The Gospel is not merely information; it is transformational.

When we have a powerful encounter with Jesus, we will see the truth boldly proclaimed. We will see God’s authority in full power.

We need to embrace the transformative power of the Gospel and let it reshape our lives and the community around us. With the transforming power of Jesus we can see Fort Smith and the surrounding areas surrender to Jesus.

You and I must pray and receive a message from the Lord and walk in the doors that He is calling us to go through.