9. Spiritual Discernment
Related Media(Acts 16:1-40)
Second Missionary Journey A.D. 50-52
Paul was a man with a plan. After revisiting the churches established in his first missionary journey he would head into the province of Asia (Asia Minor), then into Bithynia. But Paul discerned that the Holy Spirit had clearly closed these two doors and was, instead, sending him westward across the Aegean to Greece. Paul was willing to lay aside his will, as Jesus had done for the Father (Luke 22:42), and be guided by the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit continued to lead Paul and Silas on quite a journey to encourage the early church and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. However, even in the midst of God performing amazing miracles through them, they encountered brutal resistance to the gospel message. Yet God worked through their suffering, drawing people to Himself and changing lives forever. Paul and Silas, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carried out their mission in amazing ways as churches were “strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
Through the Holy Spirit we can know peace and joy even in the toughest of circumstances. If you will allow Him, God will continually present you with open doors for ministry in your sphere of influence regardless of your circumstances. Will you choose to journey with Him, like Paul and Silas did?
“Discernment is a discipline, and like other disciplines such as prayer and reading the Bible, it is one that all Christians should seek to practice and should seek to practice deliberately.” (Tim Challies, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, p. 15)
Read Acts 16:1-40 in one sitting to get the whole picture. As you do, read it thoughtfully—as a love letter. Pray that God would open your heart to the truths He has for you from this text.
Follow Paul’s second missionary journey with this map.
Day One Study
Read Acts 16:1-5.
1. Describe Timothy. What was the reasoning behind his circumcision? How does this not contradict the message in Acts 15? Was this a wise move? Explain. See also 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and Galatians 2:3 (for a different situation).
Deeper Discoveries: Timothy was probably in his late teens. Other teens such as David, Daniel, and Joseph served the Lord mightily in the Old Testament. What qualities of teens do you think make them particularly useful to God’s work? How can this knowledge help you in dealing with the Christian youth of today? See the advice given by Paul to Timothy as a young pastor 13 years later in 1 Timothy 4:12-16.
2. What message did the three proclaim in the churches of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium?
Think About It: Two to three years earlier, Paul had been badly mistreated in this area, even stoned in Lystra. Yet, he returns. What gave him the courage to return? Would you have had the courage to return?
Day Two Study
Read Acts 16:6-10.
3. Discovering the Facts: What role did the Holy Spirit play in directing Paul’s ministry to Troas?
Scriptural insight: These hindrances may have been circumstances, a word of prophecy, a vision, or some other phenomenon. God planned for people in both Ephesus and Bithynia to hear the gospel later (18:19-19:41; 1 Peter The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 398)
4. Share Your Life: Have there been times when God has intervened in your life to prevent you from going somewhere you wanted to go or doing something you thought you should do? What were the issues? What was your response? What were the results?
5. Share Your Life: God literally called Paul to a specific ministry in a specific place through a vision. You may have heard missionaries tell their story about God’s calling for them to go somewhere specifically in the world. God is still calling Christians to missionary service in His name, but sometimes it’s difficult to hear His voice amid the clamor of other “voices” in our culture.
§ What are these other “voices?”
§ Are you willing to be adventurous for the Lord—to go anywhere and do anything the Lord wants you to do? If God would call you to missionary service, even locally, would you be willing to go / serve? Share with your group.
Think About It: We often learn about life and discern our life path / actions in the wrong way. It isn’t the long-term accumulation of knowledge; it’s how obedient to God we are with the information we can immediately discern. God would rather I have understanding of 2 verses that I obey immediately than 20 verses that I don’t. Obedience is the key to discernment. It’s not “capture and remember;” it’s “hear and obey.” (Chip Ingram)
Deeper Discoveries: Examine these other references to God’s calling on a man’s life. When, where, why were they called, and how did each respond?
§ Isaiah 6:1-8 —
§ Acts 9:3-6; 15-16; 26:12-19 —
§ Jeremiah 1:4-5 —
Day Three Study
Read Acts 16:11-15.
Deeper Discoveries: Using a Bible Dictionary, study notes, or an internet search, discover the city of Philippi as Paul knew it. What was life like there?
6. Discovering the Facts: What was Paul looking for in verse 13? Why? What did he find instead? What is known about Lydia?
Historical insight: “Inscribed on the arches outside the city of Philippi was a prohibition against bringing an unrecognized religion into the city; therefore, this prayer meeting was held outside the city, beside the river.” (Life Application Study Bible, p. 1992)
Deeper Discoveries: In Acts 16:14, the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message. She was already a worshipper of God. What does this verse reveal about the Lord’s work on a heart that is already leaning toward Him? Support your answer with scripture.
Day Four Study
Read Acts 16:16-40.
7. Summarize the events in vv. 16-24.
Historical insight: Her “spirit”, a “python”, was a demonic spirit associated with a mythical snake worshipped at Delphi that supposedly could tell the future. Such persons spoke involuntarily, so the term “ventriloquist” was used to describe them. (NIV Study Bible, p. 1678)
8. The declarations of the slave girl were true, so why do you think Paul became so troubled by what she was doing?
9. Contrast the real reason Paul and Silas were seized (v. 19) with the expressed reason (vv. 20-21). You will see this again in Lesson 12.
10. Contrast the experiences of Paul and Silas in vv. 22-24 with their response in vv. 25-28. Why do you think they were singing and praying like that? Read Ephesians 5:18b-20 and Psalm 42:8. Who enabled them to do so? Who was benefited by their doing so?
Think About It: This is one of three beatings and several imprisonments Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 11:23-25. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 4:17, he calls them “light and momentary troubles.” Could you?
11. Share Your Life: How does their response to difficult circumstances impact you? Who enables you to respond the same way? Have you experienced this yet? What happened? If not, are you willing to trust the Holy Spirit to do this in your life the next time you face difficult circumstances? Share with your group.
12. What was the jailer’s response to all that he had witnessed (v. 27-30)? How was his home impacted by this event? What do vv. 33-34 reveal to you about the immediate work of the Holy Spirit in his life?
13. Share Your Life: In v. 29 the jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” What is the “good news” message of 16:31? Do you have a plan to share the gospel with others? How would you respond if someone asked you the same or a similar question? Include Scripture references.
Deeper Discoveries: In Acts 16, members of both Lydia’s and the jailer’s households were saved and baptized along with them (vv. 15, 32, 34 after hearing the gospel). See also Acts 10:24, 33, 44; 18:8, Romans 16:10-11, and 1 Corinthians 1:16. Research Greek or Near Eastern culture during this time period, especially the meaning of “household.” Does history give us any clue regarding the reason the households so quickly followed their masters in believing the gospel for themselves?
14. When word came of their release from prison, Paul & Silas asserted that their rights had been violated and refused to leave. Why do you think they chose that moment to declare their Roman citizenship? Why were the magistrates alarmed? What did they do in response?
Think About It: In only two places in Acts was Paul harmed or threatened by Gentiles—in Philippi and in Ephesus (19:23-41). In both instances people were losing money in vested interests and in each case Paul was vindicated by a Roman official. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 401)
15. Lydia is portrayed in Acts 16:15, 40 as a hospitable woman. How did Lydia’s opening her home to Paul and his companions benefit them as well as other Philippians?
16. Share Your Life: How do you show hospitality? Could God reach others through the gift of hospitality in your life? Share with your group.
17. In this passage, Paul and Silas were keenly aware of the Spirit’s leading in their lives. Review the occasions when they exercised discernment about where to go, what to do, and what to say.
18. Share Your Life: As Chip Ingram said in the “Think About It” box on page 77, “Obedience is the key to discernment.” Read the poem at right. Reflect on your own willingness to practice discernment as you follow the Spirit’s leading in your life.
Deeper Discoveries: Read Paul’s letter to the Philippians. What kind of relationship did Paul have with them? How did they encourage him as much as he did them?
Fired Up And Ready For Adventure:
Review the scripture passage covered in this lesson for evidences of the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. What will you ask God to do in your life?
10. Fueling The Fire In Europe
Related MediaFor the second part to the audio message of this chapter click here.
(Acts 17:1-34)
Second Missionary Journey A.D. 50-52
Wildfires spread as long as there is fuel to feed them. Barriers such as large bodies of water, mounds of dirt piled high, and lifeless deserts stop them cold. The fire of the Spirit began spreading in Philippi and continued to spread throughout Macedonia. Receptive hearts ignited with fire; cold hearts barred the work of the Spirit within. Enemies of the gospel kept trying to put out the fire.
Yet, the fire of the Holy Spirit burns brightly in believers who are committed to serving Jesus Christ regardless of the cost. Amazingly, and contrary to natural thinking, people in the midst of hardships and persecution respond with joy to the gospel of grace, and churches grow. As Paul writes, “in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6).” Unquenchable joy!
Read Acts 17:1-34 in one sitting to get the whole picture. As you do, read it patiently—give yourself enough time rather than rushing through it. Pray that God would open your heart to the truths He has for you from this text.
Follow Paul’s second missionary journey with this map.
Day One Study
Read Acts 17:1-9
Deeper Discoveries: Using a Bible Dictionary, study notes, an internet search, and/or the introduction to First Thessalonians in your Bible, discover the city of Thessalonica as Paul knew it. What was life like there?
1. Discovering the facts: Looking at vv. 1-9, what was Paul’s custom? Who responded?
2. Summarize in one or two sentences what happened in vv. 5-9.
Historical Insight: Blasphemy—reviling the name of God or affronting His majesty and authority—was the gravest accusation for a Jew, but treason—to support a rival king above Caesar—was the worst accusation for a Roman citizen. (NIV Study Bible, pp. 1527, 1679)
3. Specifically, what charges were brought against Paul and his co-workers?
Scriptural Insight: We know that Paul stayed in Thessalonica for longer than 3 weeks, supporting himself by manual labor (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10). The Philippian church sent money to Paul at least twice during this visit. And, most of the converts were not from the synagogue but were Gentiles steeped in idolatry. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 401)
4. The implication is that Paul was staying at Jason’s house (perhaps a relative, see Romans 16:21). How might the insistence of Jason “posting bond” or “receiving a pledge” affect Paul’s future ministry in Thessalonica? Read 1Thessalonians 1:2-10 and 2:18. Did the plan work?
Deeper Discoveries: Read the first letter to the Thessalonians to see how the church in this area progressed and the special problems it had to face. Make note of these below.
5. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8; 2:1-2; 14-15; 3:6-10 and Romans 5:3-5. How did the Thessalonian Christians both withstand persecutions or difficulties and benefit from them?
6. Share Your Life: Drawing from what the Thessalonians learned, how can we maintain our faith amidst difficulties?
Day Two Study
Read Acts 17:10-15.
7. Discovering the Facts: How are the Bereans described?
8. Share Your Life: What example do the Bereans set for us (v. 11), and how can you apply this to your life? See also John 8:31-32; 14:6, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, and Galatians 1:8. Be specific.
9. Share Your Life: The Bereans loved the Scriptures. What do you enjoy about Bible Study? How has it affected your life? What are your goals for Bible Study? What hinders you?
10. In a culture that often degraded women, considering them not worth educating, what do you notice about the women who responded to the gospel? See Acts 16:13-15; 17:4,12. Why do you think Luke mentioned “prominent” women?
Historical Insight: “Prominent (NIV) /leading (NAS)” translates the Greek protos (first in rank, influence and honor). Macedonian women had a well-earned reputation for their independence and enterprising spirit. If some of the women who believed the gospel at this time were the wives of leading citizens, the initiative was theirs, not their husbands’. (F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, p. 323)
11. How did the unbelieving Jews use mob mentality to their advantage? Why do you think these Greek crowds, so proud of their intellectual heritage, went along with it? Make specific applications to America today.
Think About It: Intellectuals resist faith longer because they can: where ordinary people are helpless before the light, intellectuals are clever enough to spin webs of darkness around their minds and hide in them. (Dr. Peter Kreeft)
Day Three Study
Read Acts 17:16-34.
Deeper Discoveries: Using a Bible Dictionary, study notes, or an internet search, discover the city of Athens as Paul knew it. What was life like there?
12. Discovering the Facts: What did Paul notice about Athens? What was his initial response to that?
13. Share Your Life: What could be classified as “idols” people “pay homage to / honor / bow the knee” to in our culture today? Does that distress you as it did Paul? Is your life “full of idols?” Consider asking Jesus to help you release your dependence on any “idols” in your life.
14. How did Athens respond to this newcomer (vv. 18-21)? [Note: The Areopagus was a council that met to evaluate religions and morals. They considered themselves the custodians of teachings that introduced new religions and foreign gods.]
From the Greek: The word for “babbler” meant “seed picker,” a bird picking up seeds here and there. Then it came to refer to the loafer in the marketplace who picked up whatever scraps of learning he could find and paraded them without digesting them himself. (NIV Study Bible, p. 1680)
15. Share Your Life: Considering the definition for “babbler” above, Paul was definitely not a babbler. Have you ever known someone you would consider a “babbler” (no names please) or been one yourself? What can you learn from thinking about this experience?
16. Discovering the Facts: There are some precious truths in the sermon in vv. 22-34. Reread it, and glean for yourself 2 or 3 points that jump out at you or might be particularly meaningful to you.
17. What did Paul mean when he said the Athenians were very religious in verse 22 (some versions, superstitious)? How did he use this information positively in his sermon?
18. Remembering how Paul geared his message to his audience in Acts 13:16-41 and 14:15-17, what does he use here (17:24-31) as points of contact with the Athenians? This requires some close observation and possibly a look at any study notes you may have in your Bible.
19. Epicurean philosophers followed the belief that happiness was the chief end of life so they pursued sensual desires, believing things were left to chance. Stoic philosophers emphasized the rational over the emotional, suppressing desires. They were also pantheists, teaching that people should live in accord with nature and recognize their own self-sufficiency and independence. What problems might the Epicureans and the Stoics have had with the gospel message?
§ Epicureans—
§ Stoics—
20. Share Your Life: Although called by different names, these thought patterns are still around today. So, the above question has application to the society surrounding you, maybe even a neighbor or relative. Identify (generally) those who follow these trains of thought today and how they are influencing or trying to influence your family. What are you doing to combat their influence? Be specific.
§ Sensualists—
§ Rationalists—
Think About It: Meditate on the words of this beloved song “You Are God Alone” by Phillips, Craig and Dean that reflect the essence of Paul’s sermon.
“You are not a god created by human hands, You are not a god dependent on any mortal man, You are not a God in need of anything we can give, by Your plan that’s just the way it is.
You are God alone from before time began. You were on Your throne, You are God alone. And right now in the good times and bad, You are on Your throne, You are God alone.”
Day Four Study
Read Acts 17:16-34.
21. Why does God reveal Himself in Creation (17:24-27)? See also Romans 1:19-20 and Hebrews 11:6. Does this work in general? How about for you?
22. What contrast (or complement) do we see about God in 17:24-25 and v. 27?
From the Greek: The Greek for “reach out / grope” (v. 27) means to handle, touch, and feel (see Luke 24:39). It pictures the blind groping of someone in a darkened room feeling along the walls to find the door.
23. What did Paul call upon the Athenians to do? Why? (17:30-31)
24. Why do you think Paul waited to proclaim Christ until the end of his message?
Historical Insight: Resurrection has one meaning only, a bodily resurrection. Nobody ever used it to mean life after death or a ghost wandering around after death. It means the restoration of a dead body in a new immortal form. To the Greek mind, the body was evil; the soul was good. Death rescued the soul from the body. There was no place in this thinking for resurrection. (N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, p. 145)
25. How did he address the Athenians differently from the usual synagogue audience? Why?
26. Share Your Life: Our culture today in many ways is more like that of the Athenians in Acts 17 than the Jews in Acts 2. We can no longer assume that our neighbor, co-worker, or friend has any working or even accurate knowledge of the God of the Bible, Bible stories, or Jesus. How does this affect our approach to them? What can we learn from Paul’s approach and apply to sharing the gospel with those who live in our “Acts 17” world?
Fired Up And Ready For Adventure:
Review the scripture passage covered in this lesson for evidences of the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. What will you ask God to do in your life?
11. Living Life In The Extremes
Related Media(Acts 18:1-28)
Second Missionary Journey A.D. 50-52
Paul and Silas were familiar with extremes. One day they were comfortably staying at a prosperous woman’s house; the next day they were beaten and chained in a cold prison, released by an earthquake, and escorted out of town. The Bereans responded to the gospel in large numbers; the Athenians barely gave it their attention. At times, Paul worked as a tentmaker to support himself and others; other times, he was supported by generous gifts so that he could devote himself exclusively to preaching. Paul enters Corinth alone; he leaves accompanied by new co-workers. This has become such a part of his life following Christ that he can say a few years later, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:11-13).” Paul practiced learning to be content amidst the extremes of life and discovered those extremes gave him opportunity to reveal Jesus in him. In fact, sometimes Paul voluntarily undertook extreme conditions for the sake of the gospel.
What about you? How do you respond to the extremes of life? Our reactions to those extremes, whether comfort or pain, reveal to those around us the reality of Jesus Christ in our lives. In fact, we discover more about our own hearts as we face the extremes of life—whether we will be faithful to Christ alone in the midst of what the world might consider “success” or “failure.” In each, can we say with Paul, “To live is Christ?”
Read Acts 18:1-28 in one sitting to get the whole picture. Remember to read it selectively—looking for important information. Pray that God would open your heart to the truths He has for you from this text.
Follow Paul’s second missionary journey with this map.
Deeper Discoveries: Using a Bible Dictionary, study notes, an internet search, and/or the introduction to First Corinthians in your Bible, discover the city of Corinth as Paul knew it. What was life like there?
Day One Study
Read Acts 18:1-8.
1. Discovering the Facts: What information does the text give us about Priscilla and Aquila?
Historical Insight: According to Claudius’s historian, the expulsion order was given (in 49 A.D.) because of “their (the Jews’) continual tumults instigated by Chrestus” (a common misspelling of Christ). If “Chrestus” refers to Christ, the riots obviously were “about” him rather than led “by” him. (NIV Study Bible, p. 1681)
2. Read Romans 16:3-4, 1 Corinthians 16:19, and 2 Timothy 4:19 for additional information about these two. Given Paul’s mention of them in later letters, what kind of relationship do you think is forming here in Corinth? See also Acts 18:18-26.
3. In what ways was it a risk for them to take Paul into their home? See 17:5-6 for help.
Historical Insight: Every Jewish man learned a trade as a boy/teen, particularly rabbinical students so they wouldn’t have to charge for their teaching and could model a good work ethic. The gospel of grace is free of charge. Tent making was a portable occupation. Paul’s home province Cilicia was famous for producing goat hair fabric (cilicium) with water repellent properties used for making tents.
4. Share Your Life: God’s gift of the friendship and encouragement from Priscilla and Aquila obviously blessed Paul and his ministry. Read Hebrews 13:24.
§ Do you have friends who do the same for you? How?
§ Are you a friend who does this? Are friends a priority in your life? What will you trust Jesus for in this area of your life? Go ahead and ask Him for that now.
5. Read 2 Corinthians 11:9 and Philippians 4:14-16. What did Silas and Timothy apparently bring with them from Macedonia (v. 5)? How did this help Paul’s ministry?
6. Once again, the Jews opposed the gospel. Read Romans 9:2-5. What would Paul have traded to win them? Nevertheless, what was Paul’s response to those who stubbornly rejected Christ (Acts 18:6)?
Historical Insight: A synagogue ruler was a layman responsible for care of the building and supervising the worship service, calling readers and preachers, and maintaining order. Most had only one ruler. (NIV Study Bible, p. 1503, 1670)
7. What were the results of Paul’s decision?
8. Athens was noted for its culture and learning, Corinth for its commerce and immorality. Which city responded to the gospel more readily? Why do you think that is? Do you see anything similar to this in our culture? Explain.
9. Share Your Life: Do you, like Paul, love someone who stubbornly rejects Christ? Can you force their faith or win them with persuasive arguments? We can always pray for God the Father to draw them to Jesus (John 6:44) and for the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin and need for righteousness (John 16:8-11). Take a moment to pray with your group for your unsaved loved one(s) and to encourage each other with personal stories of those deemed “unreachable” coming to faith.
Day Two Study
Read Acts 18:9-17.
10. Discovering the facts: List the events in this passage as they occurred.
11. Considering what happened to Paul in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, why do you think the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision? What resulted (see v. 11)?
12. What accusations were brought against Paul and why?
Historical Insight: Judaism was an accepted and established belief. Rome did not permit the propagation of new religions. Gallio was admired as a man of exceptional fairness and calmness. From an inscription found at Delphi, it is known that Gallio was proconsul of Achaia in 51-52 A.D. (NIV Study Bible p. 1681)
13. What was Gallio’s ruling on this matter? In what way do you think this ruling might have helped the spread of Christianity? How did this also fulfill Jesus’ promise to Paul (vv. 9-10)?
Deeper Discoveries: Does God still use secular authorities to protect the church and enable the spread of the gospel? Do you know specific examples of this? What does this teach us about God?
14. Paul lived through many extremes during his time in Corinth. He entered the city alone and left accompanied by many friends. He worked day and night to support himself then was supported by others so he could do ministry full-time. Read Philippians 4:11-13 and 2 Corinthians 6:3-10. What did he learn during those times? How did those extremes give opportunity to reveal Jesus’ presence in him and with him?
Scriptural Insight: His time in Corinth, and his experiences with the Corinthian church during the years which followed his departure from Corinth, did much to deepen his human sympathy and to promote his pastoral ministry. (F. F. Bruce, Paul Apostle of the Heart Set Free, p. 248)
15. Share Your Life: What extremes characterize your life? How have these experiences given opportunity to reveal Jesus in you? What word of encouragement have you received from Jesus to help you? Share with your group how they can pray with you.
Day Three Study
Read Acts 18:18-28
16. Share Your Life: Paul’s vow was likely a Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:1-21), often made out of gratitude for past blessings. The Jewish tradition involved temporary abstinence from alcohol and cutting one’s hair. At the end, the shaved hair was offered as a sacrifice at Jerusalem. Can you think of any reason Paul would be grateful during his time in Corinth? What do you do to express your gratefulness to God for His fulfilling His promises to you? Encourage your group by sharing your own gratefulness.
17. Ephesus was the leading commercial city of Asia Minor (modern western Turkey). Previously in Acts 16, Paul was denied entrance into Ephesus. But, now the Holy Spirit is directing him there. Why do you think Paul didn’t stay longer? What did he promise them? What does this tell you about his concern for this area?
18. Share Your Life: This 4-year-long missionary journey officially ended when Paul and Silas returned to Antioch (v. 22) for what we would call today “a furlough.” No doubt, he and Silas “gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them” (Acts 14:27). What a praise service that must have been!! Do you know any missionaries home on furlough? Have you spent time with them, listening to all that God has done through them, and praising Him for that? If you don’t know a missionary on furlough, perhaps contact missionaries supported by your church and ask them to share with you what God has being doing in their lives and ministry so you can rejoice with them.
Paul set out from Antioch on his third missionary trip, revisiting a number of the churches he had planted earlier (18:23) and heading to Ephesus where God had already been at work.
19. Discovering the Facts: Describe Apollos from the information given in the text (18:24-28). What kind of heart did he have?
Historical Insight: Alexandria (Egypt) was the second most important city in the Roman Empire (Ephesus being the third), was a center of culture and education, and had a large Jewish population.
20. What message was Apollos preaching? What was missing in Apollos’s understanding?
21. How and where did Priscilla and Aquila handle this gifted but uninformed man? How did this benefit the spread of the gospel?
22. Share Your Life: When was the last time you had to “correct” someone’s understanding? How can this be done so that bridges rather than walls are built? What is needed from both parties?
Fired Up And Ready For Adventure:
Review the scripture passage covered in this lesson for evidences of the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. What will you ask God to do in your life?
12. Getting Fired Up
Related Media(Acts 19:1-20:38)
Third Missionary Journey A.D. 53-57
“So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Paul, Romans 15:17-19)
We serve a powerful God. Paul saw God’s firepower displayed in amazing, obvious ways—not only in signs and miracles, but also in what the power of the Spirit did in his own life. Paul faced the daily pressure of responding to the power God displayed through him and around him. Yet, he chose to remain humble and deflect all the glory and credit to Jesus Christ Himself. As he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
This all-surpassing power is at work in our lives in countless ways we cannot see as well as at those times when He makes Himself entirely obvious. How are you at letting God display His power in you? Now’s the time to “get fired up” for the adventure ahead!
Read Acts 19:1-20:38 in one sitting to get the whole picture. As you do, read it prayerfully—the Holy Spirit has promised to help us understand it. Pray that God would open your heart to the truths He has for you from this text.
Follow Paul’s third missionary journey with this map.
Day One Study
Read Acts 19:1-7.
Deeper Discoveries: Using a Bible Dictionary, study notes, an internet search, and/or the introduction to Ephesians in your Bible, discover the city of Ephesus that Paul knew. What was life like there?
1. When Paul arrived at Ephesus (fulfilling his promise that he would return), Paul met 12 men. What did they have in common with Apollos? When Paul recognized that John’s disciples were deficient in their understanding of the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit, what did he do?
Scriptural Insight: The reception of the Holy Spirit in Acts does not follow any set pattern. He came into believers before baptism (Acts 10:44), at the time of or after baptism (8:12-16; 19:6), and by the laying on of apostolic hands (8:17; 19:6). Yet Paul declared (Romans 8:9) that anyone without the Holy Spirit is not a Christian. Quite obviously the transitional book of Acts is not to be used as a doctrinal source on how to receive the Holy Spirit. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 409)
Paul’s laying on of hands was not required for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 10:44-48) but was a demonstration of apostolic authority.
2. By God’s design, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is “the Holy Spirit placing a believer into the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:13), thus identifying the believer with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). This occurs when a person receives Jesus as their Savior. At the same time, the believer is permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, thus empowering every believer to live a life pleasing to God. Read Romans 8:1-17, 26-27. What does it mean to live empowered by the Holy Spirit? Why is this crucial for every believer?
3. Share Your Life: We are in a daily power struggle between yielding to our former master “sin” and yielding to our new master Jesus through the Holy Spirit living within us. What decisions can you make to live a life empowered by the Spirit?
Day Two Study
Read Acts 19:8-20.
4. Discovering the Facts in vv. 8-10:
§ How long did Paul teach in the synagogue?
§ Why did he leave?
§ Where did he go?
§ How long did he teach there?
§ How effective and far-reaching was Paul’s mission in Ephesus?
Historical Insight: Lecture halls were available for traveling teachers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when most people would eat lunch and rest before returning to work. Two words describe Ephesus: prominent and obsessed. It was prominent as a Roman capital, the third largest commercial center in the Roman Empire, with a multi-ethnic population of about ¼ million people. It was also a stronghold obsessed with the occult—the realm of magic, witchcraft, and evil spirits.
5. Share Your Life: Many of Paul’s listeners in the synagogue became obstinate/disobedient (v. 9). We are not immune to being obstinate. What can help us maintain soft hearts toward God’s leading through His Word (the Bible)?
6. The Ephesians’ concept of power was that of an impersonal substance one could harness to one’s own advantage. What did God do to get the attention of these obsessed people to view Him as the true and best source of power (vv. 11-12)?
Think About It: “Magic” historically is a deviation from a sanctioned religious practice that crosses the line into magic when attained through the management of supernatural powers in such a way that results are virtually guaranteed. For both Jews and Christians, reliance on the aid of “powers” (falling into magical / mystical activity) betrays a lack of confidence in the one God. (Clinton E. Arnold, Ephesians: Power and Magic, p. 19)
7. Invoking names to control evil spirits was a form of magic practiced in Ephesus. Discuss what took place in vv. 13-16. Read the “Think About It” box at right. What lessons can we learn from the Jewish “magicians?”
8. How did the Ephesians who had been dabbling in the occult exhibit repentance about this practice in their lives? What resulted?
Focus on the Meaning: In the biblical concept of magic, real supernatural spirits (demonic) are invoked to acquire knowledge or perform works of wonder. This is not parlor magic—entertaining with tricks that are in apparent violation of natural law. This also differs from the “magic” in fantasy (fiction), which does not invoke real supernatural spirits but draws upon the rules of the world created by the author. (Dr. Jennifer Newton)
9. Share Your Life: What are some ways, even if subtle, that Christians get involved in the practice of magic (sorcery, witchcraft), fortune-telling, spiritualism (attempt to communicate with the dead), or other non-biblical practices used to solve life’s problems? Are you doing this? If so, repent of this lack of confidence in God, pray for strength to flee from such practices, and trust the Holy Spirit to replace that false reliance with complete trust in our trustworthy God. Ask your group to join you in prayer.
10. Share Your Life: Read Colossians 1:29, 2 Corinthians 4:7, and the “Think About It” at right. In what ways does God make Himself obvious in our lives so that what we see strengthens our faith in what we cannot see? What do we allow to get in the way of recognizing God’s power in us and giving Him all the glory? Are you willing to let Him “show off” His Son in you and not give the credit for it to something else including yourself? Explain.
Think About It: God works in countless ways we cannot see; sometimes He makes Himself entirely obvious so that what we see will strengthen our faith in what we cannot see. (Beth Moore, To Live Is Christ, p. 111)
Day Three Study
Read Acts 19:21-41.
11. Discovering the Facts: Paul’s desire is to visit Rome (v. 21, Romans 1:15; 15:22-28). In the meantime, while he remains in Ephesus, a “great disturbance about the Way” occurs. List all the information given about the opposition toward Paul now (vv. 24-28).
Historical Insight: The Ephesians considered Artemis, with her 37-breasted image, as more powerful than any other deity or evil forces working against them, calling upon her as deliverer from sickness and enemies. They built for her a gigantic temple, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
12. What happened at the theater (the largest place for assembly in the city, capable of seating 25,000)?
13. How does the unnamed official successfully dispel the riot?
Historical Insight: By weaving the book of Acts together with Paul’s letters, it’s believed that Paul wrote three letters during this third missionary journey: 1 Corinthians from Ephesus; 2 Corinthians from Macedonia; and Romans while in Corinth.
Deeper Discoveries: Read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians written several years later, probably while he was a prisoner in Rome. Keep in mind the people and events you just studied. How does the Ephesian letter encourage your heart that what we have in Jesus Christ is more powerful and more valuable than any substitutes we could trust instead? What does He offer us in the way of spiritual power?
Day Four Study
Read Acts 20:1-6.
14. Discovering the Facts: Where did Paul travel, and who accompanied him? [Notice the use of “we” in v. 6.]
Deeper Discoveries: Twice Paul is said to have encouraged / exhorted the believers as he traveled. The Greek word used there is parakaleo which means to call to one side to admonish, instruct, and urge one to pursue some course of conduct, always looking to the future. Using a concordance or online study site such as www.bible.org, do a word study on the use of this word in the book of Acts (22 times). In how many ways and situations does the Holy Spirit empower believers to encourage / exhort one another?
Read Acts 20:7-12.
15. Describe the scene. How does a young man named Eutychus (literally, “fortunate”) prove to be true to his name?
Think About It: The church was now meeting on the first day of the week (Sunday) instead of the Jewish seventh-day Sabbath. The first day was the day Jesus was resurrected. See also “The Lord’s Day” in “The Rest of the Story” for more information. How else might selecting this day benefit them?
Read Acts 20:13-38.
16. Saying goodbye is hard. In this passage, Paul models how to say goodbye. After calling together the Ephesian elders, what does he feel he must tell them? Summarize his instructions and convictions below. Notice especially his mention of personal perils that can hinder growth and service to God.
§ vv. 18-21 —
§ vv. 22-27 —
§ vv. 28-31 —
§ vv. 32-35 —
Think About It: Notice in v. 28, Paul stresses the role of the Holy Spirit in choosing overseers/elders in a church and enabling them to be shepherds of their local flocks for Jesus’ sake. Who does the church belong to—the people or Jesus?
17. Share Your Life: Recall a time when you said goodbye. Were you leaving a child at college or camp? Were you embracing a close friend before you moved to another city? Were you sitting by the hospital bed of a loved one? Changing jobs? Leaving a ministry that drew you together? How did you feel? What did you learn? Share with the group healthy ways to handle separation.
18. Based on his own experience, Paul warns the church to be on guard against threats from both inside the church and from outside. What are some specific ways these attacks manifest themselves against the Church today? Divide them into the two categories as Paul did listed below.
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Among themselves…Internal corruption |
Savage wolves…External attack |
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19. Share Your Life: Looking at those you listed above, how can we be on guard against them? Who empowers us to discern? See 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 and Philippians 1:9-11. Have you previously asked Him to help you discern influences in your life? What happened? If you need that discernment now, ask Jesus for it. This would be a great time to pray for your church leadership as well.
Deeper Discoveries: Peter wrote his second letter to address the same subject. False teachers had risen up from within the assemblies. Read through 2 Peter and complete the following chart:
2 Peter: Addressing False Teachers
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Characteristics of False Teachers |
Verse |
Dealing with False Teachers |
Verse |
Fired Up And Ready For Adventure:
Review the scripture passage covered in this lesson for evidences of the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. What will you ask God to do in your life?
The Loyalty Factor: Lesson 12 Lecture
I’m pretty confident that most of you belong to some kind of loyalty group or program. Right? If you are like me, you join the ones that have the best perks or the best products, maybe the most convenient. How loyal are you really to that company or product?
Loyalty is “the quality of devotion or attachment to somebody or something.” It’s both a feeling and an action. Some of us by nature tend to be loyal. Others of us are more skeptical, maybe prefering to be mavericks out on our own. Loyalty is being tested everyday in homes and businesses and human relationships across this planet. Who demands your loyalty or has the right to it? Do they receive it from you? How good are you at remaining loyal? Loyalty affects how you approach life.
We are going to watch a movie clip that centers on two men whose lives up to this point are miserable. But something happens that stimulates loyalty in their relationship and gives one a better way of approaching life. It’s fromThe Count of Monte Cristo.
A man named Edman Dantes has been wrongly accused of a crime by a disloyal friend and imprisoned for 12 years. Escaping from this cruel captivity, he washes up on a beach occupied by smugglers. Those guys are about to execute a fellow smuggler named Jacabo who has been stealing from his mates. Also, disloyalty. The smuggler captain gives Edman Dantes a choice: either fight Jacabo to the death or else be killed yourself. Pay attention to what happens at the end:
[Watch 2 minute video clip “I Am Your Man Forever” accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6Oe4My_V5I]
DId you catch what Jacabo declared to his deliverer at the end? “I am your man forever.” Think about it. Jacabo could have gotten up and gone his own way. Back to being a smuggler and a thief. He was set free from certain execution — in a way that was unexpected — by a man who didn’t have to do it!! Yet, Jacabo was stunned by Dantes’ grace towards him. And, grateful for it. And that gratitude compelled him to make a choice of loyalty—to serve the one who had set him free. He did not know where that would take him. After all, Dantes washed up on the shore! But, Jacabo chose to follow Edman Dantes by faith.
What Dantes did for Jacabo, Jesus did for us. He set us free from being a slave to sin and from our old ways of approaching life, offering something much better. How do you respond to that? Does knowing and experiencing being set free stimulate in you that same response of gratitude & loyalty to Jesus?
We can’t know all that’s ahead for us, but we can choose to declare, “Jesus, I am YOUR woman.” Emphasis on YOUR. It’s saying, “Jesus is my master. I choose to be loyal to Him — today and every day.”
I didn’t understand what that meant when I was a young Christian. But, my eyes had been opened to a life that was different than before. So, I made a life choice to seek God’s truth and to discern it from all the junk the world throws at me. I wanted to know Jesus first; everything else needed to match up to Jesus’ truth, or I wanted none of it. I don’t want any other way of approaching life to sneak in and get in the way of my loyalty to Jesus. But, it’s been 39 years of everyday choosing: do I really want to be Jesus’ woman completely? Or, do I prefer to be part Jesus’ woman and the rest my own?
Open your Bibles to Acts 20. Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders reveal what it’s like to be loyal to Jesus. On his way to Jerusalem, he felt compelled to meet with them to say goodbye but also to remind them of how he modeled serving Jesus for them and to warn them about what would surely happen to distract them from their loyalty to Jesus alone in how to approach life.
Jesus As Lord Deserves Our Loyalty
Paul starts out saying in verse 18:
Acts 20:18-19 — “You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you… serving the Lord with all humility and with tears,
The “Lord” in the New Testament is Jesus. The Greek word means master; “Lord Jesus” means “master Jesus.” In Acts 2:38, Peter declared to the crowd at Pentecost that God has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ. Considering what Jesus did for us, Jesus as Lord deserves our loyalty.
I think we’ve all studied history, read books, seen movies enough to have an idea of what slavery is. Paul considered himself a slave or servant of his Lord Jesus Christ. He used the word doulos. In the Jewish culture, a doulos was someone who had been freed from slavery but now voluntarily commits himself to serve a master he loves and respects. Jesus desires that from us—that we would not only choose to serve Him as master but remain loyal to Him as our master everyday, ignoring all those other voices calling for us to follow their ways of approaching life.
Thinking of Jacabo in that movie clip, to serve his new master he would need to follow him. Do his work. Represent him. Obey his word. Live with him. Take care of what belongs to his new master. Be loyal to him. Jacabo would give up his former way of approaching life. He would gain a new identity, status with honor, friendship, a new way of approaching life.
That’s what Jesus does for us. We get a new life fused together with His and a new identity—in Christ, a Child of God, one of God’s saints, totally accepted and loved by Him. Something we can never lose.
We are set free to live a radically different kind of life. Like Jacabo, there’s a better master to serve, Jesus Christ. If we choose to make that declaration to Jesus, “I am YOUR woman forever,” how do we do that with all the distractions around us, by that I don’t mean our families or jobs. Serving them well is serving Jesus loyally. I mean, all the other ways of approaching life? Think about them: astrology, psychics, gaining power through money, self-promotion and self-will, the right to pleasure yourself, no absolute truth so choose what works for you, my American rights of equality, and more. All of those voices are calling out to us in this culture. How do we remain loyal to Jesus as our master and His way of approaching life?
Back to Acts 20, verse 19:
Acts 20:19-21 — “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Acts 20:22-24 — “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.”
He refers to “Lord” 3 times. I don’t think he was being flippant about it. In his words, Paul is declaring that Jesus as his Lord deserves his loyalty. And, I see two things in this speech from Paul’s heart that reveals how to loyally serve Jesus. The first one is humility; the second one is obedience. Let’s key in on these. And see their relationship to loyalty.
Loyalty Requires Humility
Humility. That word has intrigued me for some time now. I know it’s the opposite of pride. But, what does it really mean? The Greek word used here (tapeinophrosyne) is a compound of tapeinos = “not rising far from the ground” and phreno = “mind.” Result = “lowliness of mind.” It’s how you think of yourself.
Oh, so when I say I’m feeling really, really low today or really down today, is that humility? No.
In New Testament days, the Greeks did not desire or reward humility so it’s a rare word. Only slaves should practice humility. In fact that phrase “not rising far from the ground” pictures a slave bowing before his master, doesn’t it? New Testament writers took this word for humility and elevated it because it is so totally associated with Jesus and being with Him.
Look at Matthew 11. Beginning in verse 28, Jesus says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
What an invitation. I love that. Notice how He said, “For I am gentle and humble in heart.” What? The Creator of the universe. The one who is king of planet earth or soon would be. Seems out of place, doesn’t it? Jesus puts two words together here to describe himself. Gentle and humble.
In Ephesians 4, Paul puts these same two words together.
Eph 4:1-2 — “I…urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness…”
There is a key to understanding humility in that word gentle. So, let’s talk about it. We don’t really have a great English word to translate the Greek that describes this virtue. Old English writers used the word meek. That doesn’t help much. Our concept of gentleness or meekness is that it means passive, a wuss, couldn’t hurt a fly. Right? That’s not biblical.
Biblical gentleness carries the idea of strength under control. Jesus had the infinite resources of God at His command yet chose not to use them to His advantage. He could have called down 10,000 angels to rescue him from the cross, but he didn’t. Strength under control.
When you hold a newborn baby, you have the strength to crush that child but choose not to do so. Your strength is under control. You could verbally slash someone to pieces when you get angry but choose not to do so. Strength under control. Biblical gentleness is a work of the Holy Spirit in someone’s life. And, it’s the outworking of humility.
Humility is the decision you make in your mind; how you think of yourself in relationship to God first, then to others. Humility before God recognizes His authority over you. Yes, He’s Lord, but is He my Lord? Is He my master? We know we’ve made that decision when we are willing to trust in God’s goodness and accept His dealings with us as good without fighting Him on it. The Bible says we are to humble ourselves. It’s a choice you and I must make. That choice is reflected in our behavior towards others — gentleness.
Humility is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest…it is not occupied with self at all. (Vines Complete Expository Dictionary) So, you are not being humble when you think poorly of yourself such as, “I’m a victim, I’m worthless, it’s God’s fault I’m like this.” A poor me attitude is certainly occupied with self. Humility is not renouncing that you can do some things well. It is recognizing that you do those things well because Jesus gave you the genetics, intelligence, and opportunity to do so, and you give Him the credit for it.
In order to serve Jesus Christ loyally, we must do it with humility, declaring, “I am YOUR woman, Lord Jesus. How may I serve you today?” Trusting the Spirit inside us for the power to follow through. If I’m out there trumpeting myself and my own will, and occasionally remembering to do what Jesus wants, what good is that?
That’s why Paul could say in Acts 20:24. “I do not consider my life worth anything to myself,” only as it serves Jesus loyally—to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me. Humility leads to obedience.
Humility Leads To Obedience
What good is a servant who refuses to obey? Or, only obeys part of the time? Look at what Paul says about himself in Acts 20:22. He’s compelled by the Spirit. His master’s voice is calling to him. The Spirit warns him of prison and hardship. Not so he would back off. V. 22 I am going to Jerusalem, knowing it was going to be hard, hard, hard. V. 20 I did not hold back. To accomplish the task His master Jesus set before him. Obedience.
Think about a mother and her children. A mother who loves her children will teach her child to obey her words, to trust her, even when the child doesn’t understand. “Don’t run away from me in the store.” The children have to consider the parent’s will to be more important than their own. They do this through trust (humility) followed by obedience.
Paul demonstrated this with his life. Ron heard radio Bible teacher Chip Ingram speak last fall and shared with me what he had learned. I was struck by this quote that was in your lesson 9 study.
We often learn about life and discern our life path / actions in the wrong way. It isn’t the long-term accumulation of knowledge; it’s how obedient to God we are with the information we can immediately discern. God would rather I have understanding of 2 verses that I obey immediately than 20 verses that I don’t. Obedience is the key to discernment. It’s not “capture and remember;” it’s “hear and obey.” (Chip Ingram, DTS Leader Board)
What do you think about that? How many of you agree? I wonder what would happen if we studied the same passage over and over until we all got it then moved on.
We can have this desire for knowledge about the Bible. That’s a good thing. But, it’s obedience to God’s will for us revealed in His Word that grows us to maturity. And, we can know God’s will on a great many things. Ephesians 4:1 says God’s will is that we live a life worthy of our calling, and He clearly shows us what it looks like in chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Ephesians plus many other places. Eph 4:2 tells us to start doing this with all humility and gentleness. Humility before God means I’ve already got that settled in my mind. Now, I can obey Him in the rest of what He desires for my life to please Him.
A friend shared with me how her husband used to think all God’s commands to us were so He could keep us under His thumb. As a father, he has come to realize those biblical commands and guidelines are boundaries for us to be able to enjoy the most satisfying and abundant life we could possibly enjoy. Like boundaries set for his children are for their protection and good.
What are some other hindrances to our obedience? Lots, of course. One is when we selectively choose what we will obey. That leads us to being what scripture describes as weak-willed women, always learning but never able to recognize truth for what it really is (2 Tim 3:6). I see weak-willed as meaning undisciplined. Like a child’s behavior, especially one who wants everything, even stuff that the parent says is not good and so refuses to trust the parent and obey. They are really weak-willed to do the right thing. For women, this would be choosing to take your own way for approaching life in spite of instruction or warnings that it will be destructive. What’s missing here? Humility. For believers, this would look like you are “part Jesus’ woman cause I’m saved and going to heaven when I die, but the rest of me is my own.”
Another hindrance to obedience is we just don’t get the ugliness of our sin. What happened to Jesus before and during His crucifixion is a picture of the ugliness of sin that He took upon Himself on that cross. Has anything in recent headlines just made you sick? Any time you choose not to obey God’s word on some issue—lying, envy, rage, immorality—it’s as ugly in God’s sight as that heinous crime. Do you believe your lack of respect for your husband, if you’re married, is as ugly as that worse thing? Or, your cruel words when angry? Or, your constant worry? Maybe not with the same consequences. But, just as ugly. Obedience is necessary to remain loyal to Jesus and not get carried away by sin and all those other ways of approaching life.
Last fall, when I read Ephesians 4:2 (NIV), “be completely humble and gentle,” it just jumped right off the page at me. I’ve read Ephesians countless times, studied it at least 4 times. Yet, I had not been grabbed by the word “completely” before. But, Jesus is teaching me about obedience to Him in this area. My problem with humility stems from parents who raised me with a good self-image, lots of positive encouragement, an achiever who could do many things well. Pride rears its ugly head now and then.
Humility is the decision I have already made in my mind that I am not God, that Jesus is my master, and I serve Him by considering others as more important than myself. You must make that same decision.
Paul describes it well in his letter to the Philippians.
Phil 2:3 — Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.”
Oh yeah, that’s so easy to do, right?!
What does this look like when we’ve offended or angered someone? How often do we say, “I’m sorry, but…?” We can always find a reason to justify our behavior. Someone to blame. Excusing ourselves, “If you hadn’t done such and such, I wouldn’t have reacted that way.” And, sometimes we’ll say, “I’m sorry that you got mad at me for what I said.” That’s still placing the blame on the other person, not yourself. Or, sometimes we say we are sorry because we got caught but wouldn’t have said anything if we hadn’t. Do you do that with your family members or friends? That’s not humility. Nor, is it obedience. The scripture says, Be completely humble. That means. I’m sorry. I take full blame. I am guilty without excuse. To be loyal to Jesus as my master, my life must be characterized by humility and obedience.
How about you? Is there a verse that jumped off the page at you since you started this study? Or, maybe another verse you’ve read on your own or heard preached? Something you know you should obey.
· Maybe you have a potty mouth or cruel speech when you get angry and Eph 4:29 keeps ringing in your ears.
“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
· Maybe you’ve become flippant about sexual purity and Eph 5:3 gets you.
“But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.”
· Maybe you have difficulty in your marriage and Eph 5:33 has become a challenge to you
“…and the wife must respect her husband.”
Think about it for a few seconds.
Whatever it is, are you willing to humble yourself before Jesus as His woman and obey His instructions to you in that verse? Remember what the Ephesians did when they decided to make Jesus their Lord? They repented of their former way of approaching life and burned their magic scrolls. It was Jesus or nothing for them now. The rewards of being loyal to Jesus are immense and incomparable to anything the world can offer you. One of those rewards is protection.
Obedience Offers Protection
Obedience is necessary to protect yourself from those who distort the truth and draw us away from Jesus and His way of approaching life.
Acts 20:28-31 — “Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. Therefore be alert…”
Visualize what Paul is saying: savage wolves will attack from outside or from within the flock itself dressed in sheep’s clothing. When you have humbled yourself before Jesus as your master and chosen to obey His commands revealed to you in the Bible, you will be able to recognize truth from error, from anything that is distorted. But, when you resist the discipline that comes from obedience, you are vulnerable to embracing as a fad whatever new heresy comes along, and you cannot recognize the truth when you see it. Distorted truth takes many forms and requires a lot more time to explore than we have here. Beware of anything that promotes disobedience to God’s commands and robs you from the joy and benefits of serving Jesus loyally.
Conclusion
Loyalty affects how you approach life—Jesus’ way or all those other options out there that offer nothing lasting. Jesus as Lord deserves our loyalty. Loyalty requires humility. Humility leads to obedience. Obedience offers protection from being sucked into every new fad that comes along. Have you already made that decision to say, “Lord Jesus, I am YOUR woman” everyday? If not, will you do that today?
Five Reasons Atheists Can’t Know that God Does Not Exist
Related Media1. They don’t know what is in their neighbor’s garage without looking inside.
In other words, they have human limitations. God’s rebuke of Job makes the point rather clearly: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:2-4). The right answer is humble silence. One must have knowledge and experience of ultimate realities to speak with authority about ultimate realties.
For instance, what atheist has ever been beyond the three or four dimensions of our existence to understand a 5th, 10th, or 100th dimension? We are well-equipped to learn a great many things about the universe we experience with our senses, but woefully ill-equipped to know of things beyond. To claim such knowledge without divine revelation is fanciful.
Similarly, what atheist has ever been to the other side of the universe? With all of our advances in scientific knowledge, we still can’t measure it, let alone know what is beyond it. Scripture tells us that God is greater than the universe He created and that He cannot be subject to its limitations. How, then, could anyone know that God does not exist beyond the universe as we know it? In fact, atheists would need knowledge of everything in the universe and beyond to legitimately know that God does not exist.
2. God is infinite spirit.
He is “immortal, invisible,” and “alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16). To deny God’s existence because we haven’t seen Him says nothing about the actual existence of God. When a Soviet cosmonaut looked out of the window of his space capsule and declared that he did not see God, he said nothing of scientific value regarding the existence of God. (Someone noted at the time that had he opened the window he would have seen God immediately.) The fact that the universe is designed and ordered with uniform and universal physical laws allowed him to be in space in the first place, contrary to random chance. Without God, no capsule or cosmonaut would have been possible.
3. Human opinion cannot serve as the ultimate standard of what God can be or do.
How can a good God exist with so much suffering in the world? How can God make the sun stand still in the sky? How can a man live in a whale for three days, or be born of a virgin? Many such questions confront the believer, the majority of which disappear in the face of a God whose infinite power cannot be limited by the properties of the universe He created and sustains. But beyond the obvious answers, many difficult theological mysteries face our finite and fallen understanding. And why not? If we could understand everything about an infinite God and His universe we would be God.
Moreover, to deny truths taught by Scripture about God and His works because we cannot understand them, or because they go beyond what we know of “natural laws” says, in effect, that what I cannot understand cannot be true. It makes the finite and fallen understanding of people the ultimate standard of what God can be or do. But as we noted above, people who do not know the contents of their neighbor’s garage, or have never been beyond the universe or their three or four dimensions of existence cannot legitimately make their personal opinion the standard of truth concerning ultimate realities.
4. The universe is not built or operating according to random chance.
In denying God’s existence, the atheist leaves time and chance as the principle behind the universe. Yet, all material and energy in the universe operate according fixed and universal laws. In fact, no language, truth, knowledge, science, scientist, or atheist would be possible in a random chance universe.
For the sake of argument, assume that someone could exist with the necessary and ordered functions to view things in a random chance universe. Nothing could be known or said to be true of anything because nothing would have fixed characteristics. We know the meaning of “dog” and “tree” because dogs and trees have certain constant properties belonging to dogs and trees. But the terms would be meaningless if everything randomly changes from one moment to the next. Nothing could be said about anything. How can you do science when the scientist, the lab, and everything else are constantly changing? The atheist could not exist to argue that God does not exist.
Of course, our universe is not like this. We have knowledge, language, and do science. We build things because the elements we discover and manipulate will have the same properties tomorrow as today. No one lives their life according to a universe built and operating according to random chance, regardless of their explanation of the origin of life and the universe. Everyone lives assuming an ordered reality that operates according fixed and universal laws, expecting that the floor will not disappear from under them as they eat their dinner of well-ordered food. Atheists do not live as if their worldview were actually true.
In the end, the universe as we know it would be impossible without God. We can only discuss His existence because He exists.
5. Life is required to produce life, and the impersonal cannot produce the personal.
I recently viewed a short video clip of a brilliant inventor who claims to create “new forms of life” from PVC pipe. His “creatures” reflect the genius of their maker as the breeze powers them to walk along the beach. (No telling what he could have done with a good set of Legos.) He intends that his creations “live on” after his death. Yet, despite their brilliant design, they cannot think, communicate, love, reproduce or argue against the existence of the engineer that made them. They are not life.
Life makes life after its kind. Our engineer could have children to live on after he dies, but even with his great skill he could not mold plastic or any other inanimate material into life. Babies come from a mom and dad that were once babies that came from a mom and dad. Chickens come from eggs laid by chickens that were once eggs, while plants come from seeds that came from plants that were once seeds, ad infinitum (apart from God). Even the building blocks of life come from life that created them but could not exist without them. This closed loop of life can only exist because God first created life. In the same way, the personal cannot come from the impersonal. Energy and non-living stuff simply cannot create a soul, consciousness, conscience, thought, love, etc. A personal God of infinite power, however, can do so easily.
And so with all the designed and ordered brain power and resources of the world, scientists have yet to create from scratch a single cell, let alone a blade of grass, bug, or anything else that can remotely be called life. Yet the “simple” cell is more sophisticated than anything the collective genius of mankind has ever produced. And with a trillion or so atoms organized to form a cell, and a trillion or so cells cooperating and communicating to make and reproduce a person, including consciousness and every other trait of life, aimless encounters of somehow-existing material and energy is neither a scientific nor reasonable explanation for life.
Atheists are certainly entitled to their opinions about God’s existence. But opinions they are, and those contrary to the nature of reality. In the end, atheists are just as limited as everyone else. Apart from God’s revelation, they can only venture a guess as to what an infinite God could be or do, and that while the beauty, design, and order of the universe scream the genius and power of God.
© 2015 by Craig Biehl, www.pilgrimsrock.com
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Related Topics: Apologetics
The Promise of the Gospel
This expository study on The Promise of the Gospel walks through the Old Testament to see Christ throughout Scripture. It was preached at Bethany Community Church, Illinois (Five Points and Washington). Audio and abstracts are available for each lesson.
Related Topics: Christology, Old Testament, Prophecy/Revelation
Lesson 1: The First Gospel (Genesis 3:7-21)
Related MediaThe situation had to seem pretty hopeless for Adam and Eve as God pronounced the consequences for their sin. They had only known the comforts of the garden—a place where all their needs were met, where their relationships with one another and their Creator were only fulfilling, and where their work was a joy instead of a burden. All of these perfections were crumbling away like a house of cards in the wind. And yet, a ray of light pressed through the darkness when God spoke of one who would come and defeat the deceiver, the serpent who had scored a temporary victory. Pastor Daniel shows how we see the hope of the gospel revealed in this account, illustrating how 1) I cannot cover my sins by I will try to anyway, 2) God promises me a deliverer who can save me from sin’s curse, and 3) God can cover my sins and will do so abundantly.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Soteriology (Salvation)
Lesson 2: The Gospel to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)
Related MediaGod promises. Time passes. Everything seems to stay much the same. And then God speaks to a man like Abram (later Abraham) and gives him a message that reignites the plan never forgotten and brings a new sense of hope for redemption. And that’s what is seen in Genesis 12. Following an extended genealogy from Noah down to Abram’s father, Terah, Moses traces what hasn’t happened yet—the birth of the awaited offspring, the anticipated serpent-crusher. Did God decide after some contemplation that people were still just too wicked or that it was going to be too much work to make a way for the promised one he told Adam and Eve about all those years before? In looking at the account of Abraham, Pastor Daniel explores how the gospel of Jesus Christ was further revealed. He states, “The gospel to Abraham proclaims that there is a king who will establish a restored kingdom for all who will enter through faith.”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Lesson 3: The Gospel and the Exodus (Exodus 12:1-13)
Related MediaWestern culture today tends to prefer thinking as little about death as possible. The picture of a father in a home killing a young sheep and smearing its blood on the frame of the front door is disturbing—the idea of every family in a city of over a million people doing so is unthinkable. The image is gruesome, but this is the exact task the people of Israel had before them. And the image would serve as a foreshadowing of an even greater blood sacrifice that would one day take place. Pastor Daniel highlights the powerful message contained in Exodus 12 by stating, “Jesus Christ is the spotless lamb of God who is sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. It is a beautiful and violent image that will change your life.”
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Hamartiology (Sin), Soteriology (Salvation)
Lesson 4: The Gospel and the Law (Deuteronomy 11:1)
Related MediaCan law and love go together? You don’t see much in the way of bumper stickers or refrigerator magnets highlighting mantras like, “I love my lawgiver!” or “Honk if you love law codes!” But a faithful Israelite in Moses’s day would have linked love and law. Obeying God’s law was an expression of love for Him. Pastor Daniel speaks specifically of this, saying, “To understand the fullness of God’s love and character and the hope of the good news of Jesus Christ, I need to understand the law.” In what ways is this true? 1) The law challenges me to love God. 2) The law reveals my sin. 3) The law justifies no one. 4) The law promises something greater. And finally, 5) The law demands we live not by works but by faith.
Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff
Related Topics: Law, Soteriology (Salvation)