Affective Cultural Change (Part 1)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 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. 13 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.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 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. 17 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. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 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. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
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.” 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 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.”
28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “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. 30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 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. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 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!”
35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 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. 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.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
1. Unusual spiritual things were happening in Ephesus.
1. Unusual spiritual things were happening in Ephesus.
(1) A. They were unusual even for miracles.
(1) A. They were unusual even for miracles.
Miracles are unusual by nature.
They are unexplainable.
These were not ordinary miracles!
The types of miracles and the frequency of the miracles.
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
These miracles were an extension of God’s grace on Ephesus.
All they need was a piece of clothing to take to Paul.
This was obviously getting the attention of the Ephesians.
(1) B. They were examples of God’s power.
(1) B. They were examples of God’s power.
12 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.
One preacher said: “Paul was not powerful. Paul was empowered.”
This is God’s power working through Paul to spread the gospel at an amazing rate.
We have the Holy Spirit working in and through us.
We may not see these kind of miracles but God does not change.
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
We still serve the same God of Acts 19 and He still in the business of extraordinary miracles.
He just does it differently.
He does it through you and I sharing the gospel to individuals.
The gospel is the power the miraculously gives new life.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
(1) C. They were so unusual frauds tried to replicate them.
(1) C. They were so unusual frauds tried to replicate them.
13 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.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 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.
There are several traveling exorcists.
The jewish exorcists + 7 son’s of Sceva = 9 or 10 at least.
They most likely traveled because they were frauds.
They see what Paul is doing and try to get a piece of it.
For their own gain.
Completely missing that it isn’t Paul, but God.
This backfired tremendously.
We will look at the spiritual aspect later.
But ONE man took down at least 10 men.
I understand these are lost men and a demon, BUT...
This is how miserably we fail when we try to do things on our own!
God flipped this in His favor!
God used a demon against evil men to advance the kingdom!
We will talk about that in a bit.
(1) D. This resulted in a powerful statement by the demon.
(1) D. This resulted in a powerful statement by the demon.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
“Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
“Jesus I know” - this is not a surprising statement.
Lucifer (Satan) was once an angel, but he rebelled against God.
Now is not the place to talk about when this happened.
A third of the angels rebelled with him.
They are what we call demons.
Matthew talks about them and says that everlasting fire was created for them.
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
If they are angels and lived in Heaven with God...
They know who Jesus is.
Not only that, Jesus was known to cast out demons as well.
He exercised His power over them.
You better believe word would travel.
The demons fear Christ.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
So the demon naming Jesus by name should not surprise us.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
“Paul I know”
This should get your attention.
Are we really sure we want to be like Paul?
We should.
Let me ask you… do you think the demons know who you are??
Why did they now Paul?
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Paul believed in and lived the power of the gospel!
Paul regularly used the power of the gospel.
When we grasp the true power of the gospel and begin to turn it loose on the world with our tongues the enemy will take notice!
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Paul turned the world upside down because he regularly lived in a way that held his own life loosely.
His plans.
His freedoms.
His physical comfort and safety.
Imagine living a life that has this kind of attention from the enemy.
To us this is an unusual encounter, but it is not as unusual as you may think.
We need to live every day with the understanding that there is spiritual warfare going on around us constantly.
Let’s take some time to learn the enemy that doesn’t always present itself to us like it did here in Acts 19.
This will help us in our spiritual battles.
This also builds to the second half of our passage so take good notes!
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Satan is the prince of the power of the air.
Satan is the prince of the power of the air.
He is a prince with power.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Satan acknowledges that power when tempting Christ.
He also understands that it is power that was given to him.
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Satan has power in this world and realm.
He is a dangerous force that cannot be taken lightly.
Satan is the spirit who who now works in the sons of disobedience.
Satan is the spirit who who now works in the sons of disobedience.
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Satan is the god of this world.
Satan is the god of this world.
He runs the world’s system.
He is the major influencer of thoughts, goals, views, opinions, and ideals of this world.
This is his domain.
We are living in his domain.
So why are we surprised when we see twisted things happening?
Why are we surprised when those twisted ideals are so prevalent?
Satan has blinded those who do not believe.
Satan has blinded those who do not believe.
They couldn’t believe that truth if they wanted to.
Why do people reject what is so obvious to us?
Satan has blinded them.
Why to people believe the lies society tells when they are so obviously twisted?
Satan has blinded them.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Satan’s kingdom (this world) is darkness.
Satan’s kingdom (this world) is darkness.
So now we know who we are fighting against.
So now we know who we are fighting against.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Our fight is not against a person or any people!
Our fight is not against a person or any people!
The human race is not our enemy!
The human race is not our enemy!
People are not the problem!
People are not the problem!
When we understand this it will greatly impact how we affect cultural change.
Our fight is against rulers/principalities.
Our fight is against rulers/principalities.
NOT referring to civil government.
Satan does not set up our government.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
That doesn’t mean Satan doesn’t use them.
As lost people they are under his influence.
That also means that God will use their evil for a purpose.
THIS Refers to top ranking evil spiritual forces.
Ruling over wicked and lost men.
They do not rule over Christians!
Our fight is against powers.
Our fight is against powers.
This refers to general evil forces attacking believers.
Our fight is against the rulers of the dark forces of this age/world.
Our fight is against the rulers of the dark forces of this age/world.
Reminding us that the darkness and evil we see is not human but spiritual.
Our fight is against hosts of spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
Our fight is against hosts of spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
Pulling in all realms of evil forces.
Christians must be fighters. We cannot be passive. We need to fight the right enemy. Only then will we affect cultural change.