The Power of the Word
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Passage: Acts 19:1-20:12
Passage: Acts 19:1-20:12
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
How do feel sharing the Gospel? Do you think God’s Word is powerful to save people? Be honest.
I used to head out to Sydney Uni back in college to talk to people about Jesus. Look you get rejected a lot. people dont’ want to talk to you. But once we were chatting to this Chinese guy, we - my mate Mike and I we’d actually met up about 5 times going through the Gospel of Mark. i tell you what i got pretty excited. he was receptive. he seemed to understand it. and on board. Mike and I would pray praying for him, for God to have mercy on him. him to know Jesus. But we got to the second last study and talking about the cost of a disciple from the Bible. We want to be open and honest about following Jesus. it’s not a walk in the park. But after that study. silence. the bloke didn’t reply phone calls. didn’t want to know us. i was a bit sigh. a bit down. he seemed so close.
it made me think. Is God’s Word powerful?
like, Do you believe that God’s Word is powerful? Do you? it can break the hardest heart? It can bring people to faith in Jesus? I wonder if you believe that? sometimes I wonder…
This week we learn that God’s Word is powerful. The Word of God is powerful. The Gospel change hearts. It really does. verse 20 key verse
acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
So, as we come to our action packed passage this morning; be encouraged, i want you to perservere in preaching the Gospel. No ignorance, no exorcists, no stubbornness, no riots can stop the Word of God going out.
BI: Here’s my big idea. The word of the Lord is powerful. It transforms lives. So no matter what, no matter the response, keep preaching it.
Context:
We’re in Ephesus this morning.
2. The Word is powerful: Preach the whole Gospel (19:1-7)
2. The Word is powerful: Preach the whole Gospel (19:1-7)
First we meet some disciples. But a bit like my taste in music, they were living in the past. They did not know about Jesus; who he is, what he did. They hadn’t received the Holy Spirit. Come to verse 1 - in your Bibles
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”
See what’s happening here? These guys were baptized by John the Baptist. He’s the last prophet of Israel. Mark 1:7 John the Baptist says
And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
What did John say? What was his message? Wait. wait on God’s promises. There’s one coming more powerful than me. He will save you. That’s Jesus.
So when they meet Paul here, they’re still waiting. They’re living in the past. Somehow the memo hadn’t gone out Jesus is the one John preached about. So Paul fills them in. He preaches the Gospel. Jesus is the promised Messiah. he died. He’s risen. Trust in him.
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
Here they finally get the full picture. Not only do they understand the Gospel. they get baptised and they receive the Holy Spirit.
Friends, here’s the point. My first implication. It’s not enough to just know some bits and pieces about God. Have a vague understanding about Christianity. There’s too much at stake. Spirit filled Christians know the Gospel. We need to be clear about it. If God asked why should i let you into heaven? What would you say? what would you say? Here’s what you should say: I don’t deserve to be there. Jesus died for my sins, he rose to give me life. I can only go in by trusting in Jesus alone. Be clear about the Gospel.
My homegroup have been working to memorize Two Ways to Live. a short 6 boxes to share the Gospel. Why? we want to get the Gospel clear in our minds. But more than that, so we can share it. Talk to me next week i’ll share it with you.
3. The Word is powerful: Persevere in it (19:8-10)
3. The Word is powerful: Persevere in it (19:8-10)
Friends the Word is powerful. preach the Gospel. know it. and persevere in preaching the Gospel. think about how long it took you for you understand the Gospel. it’s usually not a one and done conversation. it takes time, investment, explanation as God through people speak the Word to you. Notice what happens next. Paul stays in Ephesus for over 2 years. He perserveres in preaching. First He goes to the synagogue to preach to the Jews.
He’s there for 3 months. But again, the Jews were stubborn. They continued in unbelief. So Paul takes the believers, and he goes to a pagan hall, Tyrannus. Not sure why it’s called Tyrannus. Maybe he’s a tyrannical teacher. But tradition says Paul would rent the hall after peak hours at the hottest part of the day. It’s like he’s running after work bible study. And see what happens, so encouraging. He reasoned daily in the hall of Tyrannus. Verse 10
acts 19:10
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
We often think Paul’s mission trips. Very short term. 1-2 months. But he is here for 2 whole years. 2 years 3 months. He’s committed to Ephesus. the mission field. He wants all people to know. And notice, All the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord. All of them. Like a virus that spreads. I know all about it, i’m at home today. The Gospel, let it ring out to the world. and Persevere in it.
Friends, let’s build our lives around the Gospel here at Epping. Make EPC your home church. Plant roots here. Do activities here. Stay here. Bring your friends here. Why? Let’s get the word of the Lord out to all the residents of Epping! It takes time. commitment, persevering in the Gospel right here in the Northern suburbs.
4. The Word is powerful: It transforms lives (19:11-20)
4. The Word is powerful: It transforms lives (19:11-20)
What have we seen? God’s word is powerful. Speak the whole Gospel. Know it. Persevere in speaking it. And then we see the word transforms lives. Jesus changes everything.
Come to verse 11:
acts 19:11-12
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Okay wow. This is just crazy stuff right. Hankies and aprons healing people. what is going on here? I suspect for you, the big question is, is this something we should see today? A family friend went to a Benny Hinn Healing service back in the day. They were selling limited edition Healing Hankies. But should we see this happening today?
First, what makes Acts tricky the author Luke does not tell us what’s descriptive and prescriptive. Descriptive - describing an event that’s happened and prescriptive – we expect this to happen in the Christian life.
Where do miracles fall? Descriptive or prescriptive? Of course, God is a miracle worker. He raised Jesus from the dead. God can do whatever he want. Even now.
But here’s the thing about miracles, it’s actually there to confirm the Word of God. it’s a powerful display points people to the Word.
And Jesus uses his Apostles to do miracles. An apostle means sent one. A messenger. Look at 2 Corinthians 12:12
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
God does the miracles through his Apostles. It confirms the message, the Word of God. Miracles never save a person. It draws us to the message that does save. The Gospel. So the Apostles could perform these specific miracles. That confirms the Gospel message written in our Bibles.
So, if you walk away from this wanting to do miracles, but not wanting to preach the Word, you’ve missed the point. Friends, i long for suffering and pain, death to end. we all do, don’t we? and yes I think its good to pray for healing i do it all the time for people with cancer, sickness. but the miracle of a saved soul isn’t that what really matters? Eternity with God?
So do you get it? The miracles prove the Word is powerful. And notice there, that’s what these itinerant Jewish exorcists did not understand. They didn’t get it. These guys are going around trying to drive out demons – they wanted to be miracle workers. mish mash their beliefs and insert Jesus’ name. Verse 13-14
acts 19:13-14
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
They get nowhere.
verse 15
acts 19:15
But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
These 7 sons of Sceva have heard of Jesus’ name. They can say it. But they don’t know Jesus. He’s not their Lord. They are not Apostles. They aren’t even believers.
In fact, the demon possessed folk overpower them and attack them. They fled naked and wounded. Pretty embarrassing, isn’t it?
Friends can you see what’s happening here? We can’t mish mash Jesus. tuck him onto your life to make it better. We can’t use his name for magic. He’s not a genie we can rub and ask for things. No Jesus is the Lord. He came with a message. The powerful message of the Gospel. We submit to him.
Look at the effect that had in the area. Verse 17
And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
I suspect if your 7 local exorcists run out naked ashamed it’d make the daily news. But better than fear, this had a huge effect. God’s Word transformed their lives. look at verse 19 it’s amazing
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Once they knew Jesus their lives were transformed. They didn’t pop the dodgy scorcery books up on facebook marketplace to sell it. make some money back. No no, the Gospel transformed their lives. They knew it meant nothing. 50,000 pieces of silver worth of books burnt. Gone.
Think about this. One piece of silver was a day’s wages. 50,000 days worth of work there. 136 years! These people considered Jesus; his word worth more than their dodgy sorcery. It was worth more than their livelihoods. They burnt it all. It’s a complete transformation. The word is powerful; it transformed their lives!
Miracles they are plain like butter pancakes but the word of the Lord transformed lives.
Application
Do you believe in the power of the word? That it changes lives? Do you really believe it? For me, nah God won’t save them. nah it’s too hard. Why would they change? They have everything. Their lives are too messy. I limit God. We limit God. We don’t actually think his word can transform lives. We convince ourselves it’s not worth it. So we don’t even pray, let alone speak to them. Do you? I do. Foolish thinking isn’t it? Acts 19 shows us God’s Word is powerful; the clear preaching of the Gospel transforms lives. Trust Him.
Brothers and sisters, Speak up. And watch God work. Perservere. He works through weak people like us. Speak the Gospel. Just decide in your next conversation you’re going to bring up God. Don’t worry about the rest.
The response is not up to you. We want a positive response. repentance and faith. But it can be negative. Like what we see next.
5. The Word is powerful: Be ready for disruption (19:23-41)
Come to verse 23 –
acts 19:23-27
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
The Gospel has been spreading. People have turned to Jesus. Lives transformed. so much so the idol-making business was taking a hit, financially.
For a bit of background, the Ephesians worshipped the goddess Artemis. It’d been there for hundreds of years. The Ephesians believed they had been set apart by the gods to be her guardian. They thought that a stone fallen from the sky landed in Ephesus. Commentators say it was a meteorite. The people of Ephesus built a temple to house the rock. It was very impressive to the eye. One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Supported by 127 massive columns. Think of iconic buildings like the Sydney opera house or the Eiffel tower.
When the Gospel came it disturbed the god and its business. funny how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything. And Demetrius, the silversmith of the temple is not happy. He’s angry. Why? Artemis will lose her reputation. They’ll lose money, jobs, their livelihoods. his speech escalates the situation. look at verse 28
When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
This is our world isn’t it? Mob mentality. These men unite and storm the theatre. They want blood. They’re angry. Ready for blood. But their confused. Most don’t even know why they are there. They drag Paul’s mates in. Really they want Paul but the disciples said no way. He’d already been stoned once, nearly died.
They’re chanting Great is Artemis of the Ephesians. Great is Artemis of the Ephesians for 2 hours.
But It’s a good thing one man the town clerk is level headed. He’s reasonable.
And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Friends see the response? Like Gallio last week. It’s not a legal case. The Christians are not doing anything wrong. The clerk says, look if they are, the courts are open, put your case there.
The only wrong thing Christians had done was share the Gospel! Can you see what’s happening here? The word is powerful; It changes lives. It turns people from godless living to living for God. worshipping idols to worshipping the true living God, moving from death to life. But the way it changes lives is not rioting, anger, rage, violence. Not at all. We’ve seen that over and over again. The preaching of the Gospel there’s no rage, no violence, just…the word. persevering in it. preaching the whole Gospel. Proclaiming the word in season and out of season. We are persuaders. We speak the Gospel.
The word is powerful to change lives. be ready for disruption. Just preach and let God do his work. Even when the response is almost a full blown riot!
Friends, the word is powerful. Do you believe that? do you believe when Paul says “I count all things as loss but the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.” That’s how Paul counts things. is that how you count things? Anyone who wishes to keep their lives will lose it. Anyone who loses their life for the Gospel will gain life. That’s how a Christian counts things.
Knowing Jesus. knowing his powerful word means we count things different. and it’s going to clash with people. with institutions. with the world. so be ready for that.
Mate when he came to do MTS. His dad disowned him. What? You’re going to leave all the wealth I worked hard for you? You’re going to disobey me and follow Jesus? leave your physio work behind? his dad Didn’t want to have a relationship with him. It’s awkward. But the Christian counts it differently. They know the power of the Word: following Jesus causes disruption. But it’s worth it.
Friends, do you see the Gospel in that light? It’s powerful. It transforms lives. It causes disruption. Share it. watch God go to work. God gives us the privilege to be his witnesses. We are God’s walking miracles, saved by Jesus. We have from death to life.
The word of the Lord is powerful. It transforms lives. So no matter what, no matter the response, keep preaching it.
let’s pray.