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Acts 19:1-12 KJV -
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spakewith tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spakeboldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Paul asked certain of the disciples in Ephesus: “Have ye received the HOLY GHOST since ye believed?” In the Name of the LORD JESUS, we have:
1. The Assurance of Salvation:
In our present time, did we understood this question literally or spiritually?
For if we understood that we should receive the HOLY GHOST literally, then we must be laid hand by Apostle Paul. Rather, if we understood this in spiritual sense, we received the HOLY GHOST upon receiving JESUS CHRIST as our personal LORD and Savior, through the teaching of Paul; the salvation by grace through faith, we heard from the preaching or teaching of a certain “disciple” (servant) of CHRIST. That after we believed, being led by the HOLY SPIRIT, we will submit and follow in the water baptism in the Name of JESUS.
From that obedience to the ordinance of CHRIST, comes gradually the wisdom and understanding,while we continue learning the written words of The LORD: the dispensation of Grace.
Dispensation means the order of, arrangement of, or provision specifically of Divine providence; from where we get understanding, about:
Desiring to have an in depth learning of the words, comes from the conviction of the HOLY GHOST to everyone who then will not withhold; but have the hunger to know the truth. Having that strong conviction that what we received, we must be so knowledgeable and sure; not only for our own good, but also for the purpose of sharing to others who are lost and confused.
if we have that blessed assurance of salvation, we have that pressing desire to dig deeper in knowing more and more about the word of the LORD.
Acts 19:13-20 KJV
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
In the Name of JESUS CHRIST, we have:
2. The Anointing of the HOLY GHOST. The words we believe has power, that even thedemons knew Paul our Apostle.
“15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”
These vagabond Jews, exorcists, seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew: a chief of the high priests, they tried to use the name of the LORD JESUS, whomPaul preached, but what the evil spirit from the man they tried to heal and be freed, answered: “JESUS L know and Paul I know, but who are you?”
This is a brutal and shameful lesson for all who tried to use the name of The LORD JESUS and the Apostle Paul’s name for their own gain:
* the evil spirit objected them v.15
* the devil overpowered them v 16
* the enemy overturned them v 16
These may also be obvious in their words: no power to comfort, perception is void from them, confident nor progressive outcome could not be seen.
They were revealed; and the more, The LORD’s Name, through the preaching of Paul, many turn to JESUS with great fear; gave up their curious arts and books worth a fortune; opened up their hearts to receive the faith in JESUS, after what they heard and witnessed.
Indeed, by the Sovereign power of GOD, evil, exorcism and false teachings will surely be revealed. They may have feigned to pacify or performed some miraculous healings, but they won’t last longer; for the hand of GOD will exposed them naked, worse they are unsure and scared they will be crushed asunder. For only the Name of GOD has power, and by the anointing of the HOLY GHOST which in us, The LORD JESUS’ Name is and will be magnified the more and ever.
Acts 19:21-29 KJV
“21 After these things were ended, 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 them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.”
3. The Arguments of idol worshippers heatedly raised and were encountered by Apostle Paul and the converts who were called to serve suffered. We too must be ready to face these untoward circumstances.
For when the source of wealth is shaken by the truth, them who were lavishly benefited, extremely arose, to secure no matter what the cause. Not just to dispute, but to make sure gain will continue to flow in to their purse.
This way the silversmith Demetrius stir all of his colleague craftsmen whose wealth came from making shrine they sold to their followers for the goddess Diana of Ephesus.
This way, an uproar against Paul again have gone up; the worshipper of Diana were filled with confusion why they were there; that in the midst of chaos, they just go along with them who caught Gaius and Aristarchus; brought them in the theatre, to track down Paul, who have converted some among them, in following JESUS.
People’s belief are so vulnerable in the age of oldeven in this generation. Because of human’s inherited sin, our longing to commune with our Creator, has been and constantly the subject of the devil’s attack. He clouded human’s mind with the yearning to worship; introduced to relics bythe image makers, whom also were blinded by the enemy of GOD with greed of gain, from making and selling gods and goddesses. Drawn into allusion that the GOD our Creator hears prayersthe more; if there are the representation of images of dead saints they solemnly hurdled to parade. Ignorantly willing to embrace paganism through the subtle manipulative teachings we received from our forefathers, whom also were the victim of oppression subdued by the mighty conquerors; forcing to their throat to swallow the universal belief system that have almost conquered the whole world .
Thanks be to our Loving GOD the Father in Heaven for sending His Beloved Only Son JESUS CHRIST; that in His words, we have the basis of truth.
His Mighty, Powerful Word strengthen Apostle Paul, who has been bolder in spreading the gospel of grace to save us, who, before were among the lost.
Now that we see, we are no more confused. We are free from the curse of worshipping idols; and were all strengthen to share GOD’s way of salvation to the weary world.
May the LORD find us faithfully doing the work of winning for CHRIST; all of our family, relatives, friends, acquaintances and all we meet along the way who are weary and confused.
In the Name of JESUS CHRIST and in His word is the truth.
Let His voice be heard through us overall the world.
Acts 19:30-41 KJV
“30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.”
In the Name of JESUS CHRIST is the availability of:
4. The Absolute protection and providential grace of GOD.
That even in the midst of chaos, He is able to justify us from the false accusation that was aim to distract us from sharing the gospel of CHRIST.
From this chaotic instance; where people of Ephesus were stirred by Demetrius the silversmith; whose motive is just to make sure no one will trouble the flowing source of their gain.
But this verse confirms to us that if we proclaim biblical truth, we have in us the wisdom and understanding from word of GOD: The LORD of all the earth and the Heaven of heavens:
James 3:17
King James Version
“17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
We may be accused by the unbelieving of causing them troubles; but the LORD shall surely will raise someone to our defense. Thank be to our GOD’s Omniscience, which is incomprehensible by man’s limited understanding.
Every day of our lives, since we accepted, believe and cleave to our Loving Savior JESUS CHRIST, is a miraculous works of GOD in progress. Sometimes we are accustomed to it, that we neglect to give Him our highest reverence.
May we all be mindful of our gratefulness, by speaking to Him in prayers before the start of our days; giving Him all the praises, honor and glory, and give thanks always to His amazing grace. For in the Name of JESUS CHRIST we are lovingly secured by His love, by His mercy by His faithfulness every day unto everlasting.
May He will find us faithfully seeking His words, living in the faith of Him and submitting to His blessed will.
Have a blissful day ahead!
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