51. Our Refuge and Strength
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsGod is our refuge and strength, He will help us in our trouble, sometimes by unusual means.
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction
Introduction
Recap
Revival has hit Ephesus through Paul’s ministry. Thousands of people were getting saved on the spot. The most exciting part of that ministry was the people’s repentance. They publicly turned away from their witchcraft, burning 50 000 silver coins worth of books in the street.
It ends off with this awesome statement in vs. 20
20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Key is, there is a very public revival happening in Ephesus; but some people really didn’t appreciate that…
Vs. 21-22
Vs. 21-22
21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
If you could boil down Paul’s whole life as a missionary, what would you say is his most important goal? (Sharing the gospel to the lost)
Absolutely. That’s his number one goal… Here in vs. 21, Luke is giving us details to what Paul’s other plans were, you could say these were his side-quests…
Where does he want to pass through? (Macedonia and Achaia)
What are his two destinations at the end of the verse? (Jerusalem and Rome)
Map of the Roman Empire
Q: Where is Jerusalem? (East)
Q: And where is Rome? (Way west)
This route seems counter-productive if you’re trying to make it to Rome. There’s got to be a reason why he takes a full detour to make it to Rome…
Ill: If you wanted to go to Florida, you wouldn’t drive to the NW Territories for no reason…
Any of you with a study Bible want to tell me why he wanted to go to Jerusalem first? (He was gathering a financial gift from churches to give to the poor believers in Jerusalem)
From this point on in Acts, we follow that journey Paul makes to Rome. We’re going to see him go through storms, get shipwrecked, and encounter plenty of dangers along the way.
So, he sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (Greece) while he stayed in Ephesus for a while…
Vs. 23-27
Vs. 23-27
Verse 23 is where things get veeery interesting…
23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.
Remember what “The Way” is? (Christianity)
So there’s a big stir happening around Christianity in Ephesus, the whole city was buzzing…
Who’s the culprit of this commotion in vs. 24? (Demetrius)
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.
What was his job? (Silversmith)
Okay, don’t think swords and shields here…
What does verse 24 specifically he made? (Shrines to Diana)
Photos Shrines
- Idols of Diana
- Little silver models of the temple
Guys like Demetrius made these and sold them to Diana’s worshippers. They’d bring them home and set them up as an altar their family could worship.
Ill: He makes me think of…
- Souvenir shop guy (Snow globes)
- Eiffel tower salesmen
How full were Demetrius’ pockets according to vs. 24? (Full, he was not struggling financially)
So, vs. 25, he gets all his trades buddies together and enrages them…
25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.
26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.
27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
What things is he concerned about?
Paul is preaching against polytheism & idolatry
Who do these guys rely on to get a living? (Polytheists and idolaters!)
Loss of income
Ephesus festival:
Every spring, disciples of Diana would gather in Ephesus from all over the Middle East to attend the festival in honour to her. Ephesus was booming during this week, and you can imagine the money that was moving around during this festival.
- Worshippers offered up big offerings
- Tourists spent on lodging and food
- And followers of Diana might be interested in Demetrius’ idols… Don’t you think?
Ill: Cruises stopping Uptown. People are ready to SPEND…
But now, Paul is persuading many of Diana’s worshippers and they’re forsaking her…
What does that mean for Demetrius’ business? (Big loss of customers… UH OH!)
What do murder mysteries always tell you to follow when looking for the murderer? (“Always follow the money!”)
You can learn a whole lot about someone by taking a look at their purchases. This guy is horrified that he might be losing money here soon.
What is Demetrius concerned about in vs. 27?
Not only is the trade in danger, but the worship of Diana is being left behind!!!
Now, do you think he’s really concerned about Diana? [Say with noble voice]“Diana the great and noble one is being forsaken!” (I don’t think this is his main concern)
What’s he really concerned about? (No more money!!)
Ill: But if I want to win over a bunch of people and start a riot, should I be telling them how poor I am?
- “Hey everybody, CARLY IS MAKING ME BROKE AND MY BUSINESS IS DYING… LET’S GET HER!!!
Q: Are any of you going to jump in and support me?
What if, instead, I pitched it this way…
- “Hey everybody, I PERSONALLY HEARD CARLY SAY SHE WISHES DEATH TO CANADA, TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT, AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE OF SAINT JOHN… LET’S GET HER!!!”
Q: Now, what is your inner patriot telling you? (AAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!)
Demetrius is a sneaky guy, he obviously knows how to manipulate people. He touches on what’s close to their hearts, and then calls them to riot…
“the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
See how dramatic his choice of wording is? (It works!)
Vs. 28-34
Vs. 28-34
28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
Great is Diana of who? (The Ephesians… He just struck their patriotic hearts!)
Ill: Dr. Doug’s chocolate story
Their inner zealot fro Diana bursts out, and all their wrath is poured out in this cheer… “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.
Chaos has ensued, and confusion is everywhere… People are pushing each other, chanting, yelling, it’s a rodeo!
Who do they capture in vs. 29? (Gaius and Aristarchus; Paul’s travel companions)
They take them to the theatre…
Photo: Mt. Pion theatre
What’s Paul doing in vs. 30? (Wants to follow them so bad but he’s being held back, the Christians know just how dangerous this would be)
Ill: Dugouts clear in Baseball
- Guys holding each other back (This is what I picture Paul here)
His friends are pleading that he wouldn’t get in there it’s too dangerous…
Who are these friends in vs. 31? (Officials of Asia; these are members of wealthy, powerful Roman families. The most certainly were not believers…)
God protects His children even through ungodly people in some cases…
Ill:
- Firefighters
- Police men
- EMT’s
- Doctors & nurses
God cares for us, and He will make sure that we are protected, He often uses people that hate Him, and they have no idea God is using them! God cares about you!
Verse 32 is one of the funniest verses in the Bible to me…
32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
What’s happening here?
This guy is screaming “Great is Diana!
This other guy is yelling “Lower the taxes!”
This other guy is shouting “What’s going on?!!”
And this last clueless guy is just shouting because everyone else is “AAAAAGGHHHHH!!”
Nobody knew what was going on!
Paris riots
- “Students” = “We need cheaper education!”
- Islamic riots = “Cease fire!! Death to the Jews!!!”
As the crowd is going wild, the Jews have this guy Alexander step up and get their attention.
This would be so confusing…
You’re in the crowd and this Jewish guy tries to get your attention. But you’ve been cheering about your pagan goddess Diana. So strange. He failed miserably to get their attention.
Do the pagans like the Jews much more than they like the Christians? (No way, as soon as they notice he’s a Jew, they chant for two hours!)
34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
Vs. 35-41
Vs. 35-41
Who steps up in the crowd in vs. 35? (The city clerk)
City clerk = city mayor
As the mayor of Ephesus, how did this riot look on his reputation? (It looked awful on him, and it looked bad on Rome. If Rome cracks down on this scenario, Ephesus will lose some, if not all of her freedoms)
His argument to calm them down was this, “Look, nobody denies that Diana is a true goddess from heaven, what earthly power can threaten her? Calm down, you’re making too big a deal over this, it is too risky!”
Is Paul a criminal? (No he isn’t)
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
They didn’t rob the temple, “Diana isn’t real, so LET’S LOOT ALL THE GOLD!!”
What’s the solution in vs. 38?
38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.
If Demetrius has a problem with Paul, let him sue the guy!! Why should we make a mess over this?!!
40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
Who might call them in question? (THE EMPEROR!)
Violating the Pax Romana (Rule of Roman Peace), and they could lose their freedoms as a city.
What was the outcome of his speech in vs. 41? (Everyone left)
Application
Application
God is a very present help in trouble.
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
If God is our refuge in a time of trouble, do we need to fear when we are in trouble? (No, He will protect us even through the most unusual people)
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
