Allow God To Do Weird Things To Reach People

Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.

Biblical Text -

Acts 19:8–20 NKJV

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 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. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 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. 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.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 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. 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. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 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. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - To Be Used By Jesus We Must Radically Amputate Sin From Our Lives, Be Creative & Let God Use The Weird Things To Reach People.

Life Point- Be Creative When Sharing The Gospel

Exegetical -

Acts 19:8–10 NLT

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

Homiletical -

Here we see Paul starts out in the synagogue and for three months he argues persuasively about the Kingdom of God. He talks about Jesus as he was given opportunity and of course he follows his usual pattern. He goes to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.

This is seen more clearly here in this section of scripture than in any other, in my opinion.

So Paul preaches for three months but some people hardened their hearts and spoke poorly about the Christians.

By the way. The Way was how people referred to Christians at this time. They were called followers of The Way.

Now during this three months, God is gracious and adds to the church. But when the controversy happens and his message is rejected, he leaves taking all the believers with him.

Now Paul meets in a public lecture hall. These halls were used by philosophers to teach their messages. Usually between the hours of sunrise and 11:00am.

Most workers during this time period would have a break time between 11-4pm. Wouldn’t that be interesting today to have a lunch break between 11am - 4pm.

So more than likely Paul would take this opportunity when no one was really working to teach during that time frame in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Paul did this everyday for about two years.

He did this so that people would hear God’s Word. This became such a great way to reach people that the Bible says a lot of people throughout the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the message.

Notice that Paul found a time when he could reach the most people and used that time to preach and teach the Scriptures that related to Jesus. That was a creative way to do it because most people were taking a break from their labor during that time and had nothing else better to do. We need to be creative in reaching people for Jesus.

I would like to challenge you this morning. What can we do as a body of believers to reach the lost? What can you do that no one else is really doing to reach the lost? When people think of this church in our community what can they say about us? What do you want to be known for?

Illustration -

A church in a busy urban area held a free car wash to provide a service and connect with the community. As they washed cars, they took the opportunity to share their stories of faith and listen to the stories of the people they served. This simple act of kindness opened more conversations than a traditional evangelistic meeting.

In a small town, a pastor decided to get creative with outreach by organizing a community art project. People of all ages came together to create a mural depicting the story of the Good Samaritan. As they painted, conversations happened, and relationships were built. This mural not only beautified the town but served as a reminder of God’s love and service, effectively reaching the lost through art and community spirit.

Life Point - Let God Use The Weird Things To Reach People

Exegetical -

Acts 19:11–13 NLT

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”

Homiletical -

During this time Paul is given power by God to perform unusual miracles.

Notice that today there are a few false teachers who are trying to recreate these miracles, usually for a large donation amount. However, the scriptures tell us this is wrong.

Matthew 10:7–8 NLT

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

Nowhere in scripture do we find God doing miracles for money. If someone tells you they can get a miracle from God for a certain amount of money, put a hand over your wallet because if they will lie to you, they will steal from you too.

The Word unusual means that these miracles where not normative. They are not normal, even for miracles they aren’t normally the way God does things, but He chose do these things anyway.

People would have handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched Paul’s skin placed on the demon possessed and the sick and the demon was cast out and people were healed.

What a really unusual way for things to happen.

God can sometimes use the most strangest of things to reach people.

Now notice this as well. Some of the Jewish exorcists saw how powerful and simple just invoking the name of Jesus could be to cast out demons. So they went around casting them out while using the name of Jesus that Paul preaches. They didn’t know Jesus, but they used His name anyway.

We always say there is power in the name of Jesus, but that only applies to those who are believers or are becoming believers. Not the unsaved. As we will see in a minute.

Illustration -

I remember when the internet was in its’ infancy and audio chat for gamers had just started. I would use a room to start talking to people about the Bible as well as teaching from scripture. At the time no one else was really doing that so the room would get pretty large. I used it to defend the Gospel and see people come to Christ. I ended preaching and teaching to people around the world. God can use the most unusual of things to get His message across. So don’t discount things as God’s power and message will use the most unusual of things.

Life Point - To Be Effective Radically Amputate Sin From Your Life

Exegetical -

Acts 19:14–20 NLT

Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

Homiletical -

So these seven sons of Sceva are going around and doing the same thing, but only this one time a demon possessed man pointed out that he knew of Jesus and Paul but not them.

In other words, he knew the power of Jesus and knew Paul walked with Jesus but they weren’t saved so they had no authority over the demon.

The demon was so violent that they ran from the house naked and beat up.

Let me tell you something the supernatural is real. It isn’t like what Hollywood portrays but it is real. If you don’t know Jesus you don’t go fooling around with it because it is a losing proposition for you.

However, as believers when it comes up we are called to deal with it. Trust me it comes up. It seems like every once in a while as a pastor it comes up and I have dealt with it in the past many times.

Let me reiterate you don’t go looking for a fight, but when one comes you let the authority of Jesus that is in the believer finish it.

Now this story gets around Ephesus and brings praise to the power of Jesus. Paul’s miracles are getting around and people are being converted.

There were a lot of people who were into sorcery books and burned them.

Now remember books were expensive because they had to be hand copied. The printing press wasn’t invented yet. So the cost of these books were high. But rather than resell and pass on the devil’s works and the sinful practices found in them, they burned them. They utterly eradicated the sin from their lives.

Matthew 5:29–30 NLT

So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Jesus was using some hyperbole here but the point is radical amputation of sin. Get it out of your life.

If we want to be used by God, whether that is dealing with people, salvation matters, or the supernatural then we have to radically amputate sin from our lives.

Leviticus 11:44 NKJV

For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

We are called to be Holy Because God is Holy.

Illustration -

A young man once struggled with an addiction that pulled him away from not just friends, but ultimately from God. After hitting rock bottom, he realized that his only option was to cut ties with the toxic influences in his life. This meant severing friendships and habits that led him down the wrong path. Like the radical surgery Jesus spoke of he confronted his sin head-on. The cost was high, but the life he gained was worth every painful step.

In the ancient world, a gardener caring for a vineyard would prune the branches, sometimes cutting back even healthy ones. That seems pretty harsh, but those cuttings allowed the plant to grow stronger and produce better fruit. In John 15:2, Jesus describes the Father as the gardener who prunes us. To radically amputate sin from our lives may feel painful, yet it is essential for our spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

Life Principle– To Be Used By Jesus We Must Radically Amputate Sin From Our Lives, Be Creative & Let God Use The Weird Things To Reach People.

Call to Action – altar call….

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