Gospel Drenched, Spirit-Filled, Darkness Destroying Revival

1. How does the context inform the meaning of this passage? Please consider: a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage), b) the historical context (circumstances of the audience), and c) the biblical context (citations/allusions or historical connections to other books that the author is making).

LITERARY CONTEXT

HISTORICAL CONTEXT -

Disciples of John- ‘knew only John’s baptism’

The “industry of idolatry”

‘Hall of Tyrannus’

BIBLICAL CONTEXT

Biblical Baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit

2. How has the author organized this passage? Please a) show the structure in sections with verse references and b) explain what strategies you used to see this structure.

The Gospel established in Ephesus [v. 1-10]

The Gospel’s power confronts darkness in Ephesus [v.11-20]

The Gospel resisted in Ephesus [v.21-41]

3. Drawing on your work to this point, state the author’s aim for his audience (in one short sentence).\

The work of the Gospel exposes the futility of the spiritual darkness in Ephesus.

4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?

The work of the Holy Spirit through the church.

The Gospel is the center of what it means to be a disciple. [v.3-6]

The Gospel clearly set forth the only way to a right relationship with God. [v.8-10]

The Gospel’s power cannot be manipulated by unbelievers [v.11-20]

The Gospel is a dividing line between true and false spirituality [v.21-32]

5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?

The church is a spirit-filled people of God who push back the darkness of this world.

6. What is your sermon title and your preaching outline?

Sermon Title - Pushing Back the Darkness in Ephesus

How we push back the Darkness

A Need for Gospel Shaped Spirit Filled Living [v.1-7]

A Need for Clear Gospel Proclamation [v.8-10]

Evidences of pushing back the Darkness

An Unmatched Spirit-filled Ministry [v.11-20]

An Undeniable Dividing Line Between pure & false spirituality [v.21-34]

SERMON EXPANDED OUTLINE & MANUSCRIPT

Introduction:

We are down to the end of our study in Acts. We have about 4 more weeks after this Sunday and then we roll into Easter and back into our Series in Genesis.

GOAL: What I want to do this morning is ask one question and try to answer that question from ?

Q: What is it that should characterize the life and witness of Grace Church?

By this point, we should have some pretty clear ideas about how to answer that question.

But if you look at the state of the church, particularly in the Bible Belt South, you might draw a different conclusion.

Examples: 1. Generation Answer 2. Institutional Answer 3. Socio-economic Answer 4.

A: The Church is a Gospel Drenched, Spirit Filled & Darkness Destroying family of Christ Followers.

THEME/MAIN IDEA:

Today, what I want us to see from is that church at it most fundamental level is a Gospel-Drenched, Spirit-Filled, & Darkness Destroying Family of Christ Followers.

Main Outline:

So let’s break that main point into its main section

GOSPEL DRENCHED [v.1-10]

Context/Explain

There is a need to embrace a fully orbed gospel shaped discipleship not just a vague discipleship. [v.1-7]

baptism of just repentance is not enough

baptism of repent and faith is the only way

There is a need to preach a clear Gospel message [v8-10]

Heat - “spoke boldly”

Light - “some became hardened”

APPLICATION -

SPIRIT FILLED [v.11-17]

Context/Explain

We Baptists get a little weirded out when preachers start digging into weird phenomena like this.

People start speaking in tongues and prophesy? - Is that for us today?

facecloths and aprons are healing the sick? - Feels like an episode from TBN!

WORK OF THE SPIRIT FLOWS DOWN STREAM OF THE PREACHED WORD v.11-12

The tendency is to try to say more than the text says or less than the text says

When we say more than the text -

When we say more than the text -

cesessionism vs. continuationism

But we also say less than the text:

What does the bible say about the role of the Spirit now that the covenant of Grace has been fulfilled?

So the tendency is to hide the Holy Spirit in a closet because we really don’t know what to do with Him?

Or we allow any seemingly spiritual experience pass as a work of the Spirit therefore divorcing the work of the Spirit from the Work of redemption!

The work of the Holy Spirit in the church is a gift to the church that works in conjunction with Scriptures not as something different or seperate from the Bible.

Everything that Paul was doing in vs.11-12 and what had happened to the disciples in vs. 1-7 was running downstream from repentance and faith in Jesus and the subsequent new birth that is wrought in the heart of a true confessor of the faith! This was promised in the OT!

- "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

- "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

:21Verse Concepts

-"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever."

"It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Sola Scriptura & the Work of the Spirit are not in contradiction with one another.

- "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

Because the very authoritative Word that we preach (OT and NT) points to a unique and powerful work of the Spirit with in the church

"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever."

Because prophecy is not meant to be seen as “future telling” or “new revelation” but a work of the Spirit in the Prophet to speak clear truth with in the very unique context of the world they live.

A TRUE WORK OF THE SPIRIT CANNOT BE MANIPULATED v.13-17

CONTEXT: People always seem drawn to the work of the Spirit because of the power, influence and affluence that can be gained by wielding its power.

Not every Acts of Spiritual Phenomena is a Work of the Holy Spirit

Not every Acts of Spiritual Phenomena is a Work of the Holy Spirit

You cannot live on borrowed faith.

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

The Spirit Filled Christian grows into a Gospel shaped disciples

The Spirit Filled Christian preaches a bold Gospel word

The Spirit Filled Christian is a conduit for God’s Work

You can’t put a seatbelt on the work of the Spirit. - John 3

The Spirit Filled Christian exposes sin in their lives.

DARKNESS DESTROYING v.18-20

THE SPIRIT IN US LEADS US TO CONFESS AND REPENT OF SIN - v.18

CONTEXT: Those who had believed demonstrated the life change they experienced with on repentance and faith.

personal sin

corporate sin (in the church & church discipline)

social/societal sin (justice issues)

Oppression/Racism

Abortion/Life

Greed/Poverty

THE SPIRIT IN US PUTS TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS IN THEIR LIVES - v.19

Context: The 50,000 pieces of silver is the equivalent of $6 Million that was destroyed on this day. Their darkness was deep and pervasive but the Holy Spirit enabled true freedom from their shackles of death & darkness.

Repentance is not just admitting but turning from sin.

Repentance is fighting sin…war!

This acts of destroying the sinful remnants of their life had massive implications

Economic - v.21-41

THE SPIRIT IN US WORKS TO SEE THE WORD OF GOD FLOURISH AND PREVAIL - v.20

CONTEXT: We are told that the “word of the Lord PREVAILED and FLOURISHED” This means that the power of the Word of God did not come back void. In other words, repentance and mission go hand in hand!

We cannot hope to see the mission of the church advance with out repentant Christians and churches.

CLOSING/APPLICATION-

The Spirit Filled Christian grows into a Gospel shaped disciples

The Spirit Filled Christian preaches a bold Gospel word

The Spirit Filled Christian is a conduit for God’s Work

You can’t put a seatbelt on the work of the Spirit. -

The Spirit Filled Christian exposes sin in their lives.