False Facts

False Facts

Acts 19: ³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

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With passion, I quoted some information to a group. After many moments of arguing, someone pulled me to the side and said “The information you are quoting is wrong.” The person showed me the correct information and I was thoroughly embarrassed. I had to now, go and correct what I had passionately argued over.

• There were times when I wanted to be heard more than being right.
• There were times when I wanted to exert power, so I got into arguments.
• There were times when I quoted things as fact when they may not have been true.

An official of the city was finally able to quiet the rioting. But when he spoke, he told everyone about Ephesus being the guardian of the temple goddess Artemis and her relationship with heaven. He quoted this as an undeniable fact. The crowd dispersed, but what was heard?

• GOD wants me to learn about HIM.
• GOD wants me to understand HE is the only GOD.
• GOD wants me to speak the truth about JESUS being the one and only SON of GOD.

Being part of a group can sometimes outweigh telling the truth. I mean, when I feel empowered to speak “a” truth, it feels good to be validated by a local group. BUT GOD wants me to be brave enough to speak “the” truth.

GOD is the only GOD. There is no other. HIS SON, JESUS, along with the HOLY SPIRIT are inseparable, all knowing, all seeing and all powerful. HE revealed facts that cannot be refuted and JESUS’ return cannot be stopped. I am grateful for these facts in which I live my life by.

• What facts are you willing to die over?
• Are the facts you live by worth losing eternal life?
• Will you place your passion on JESUS versus manmade facts that conveniently change often?

Wanting To Be Angry

Wanting To Be Angry

Acts 19: ³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

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“Why is it so dismal today?” I asked. “Why is traffic so heavy today?” I asked. “Why is that guy driving so stupid?” I asked. “Why don’t they just open up some lines at this grocery store?” I asked. Each complaint was met with silence because I was by myself. If someone looked at me the wrong way, I was ready to fight.

• There were times when I wanted to be angry.
• There were times when I wanted to complain about everything.
• There were times when I wanted to be in a bad mood; even if an issue was remedied, I may have complained about how it was handled.

Many people in the angry mob didn’t even know why they were there. They just wanted to be angry and went along with the crowd. When Alexander, a Jew, tried to settle things down, the crowd saw through the ploy and shouted their allegiance to the goddess Artemis.

• GOD wants me to have peace.
• GOD wants me to investigate my rage and anger.
• GOD wants me to trade my anger in for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, namely the fruit of the Spirit.

Rage and anger bears no fruit. It does get someone’s attention, but should not be the method of change. GOD says “Bear fruit.” What better fruit to bear than that of the fruit of the Spirit. Many sinful situations need to be resolved in society. All situations can be resolved using the fruit of the Spirit. I am grateful JESUS used the fruit of the Spirit to save me.

• What are you angry about?
• Do you quickly get angry and stay there without remedy?
• Will you remediate your rage by applying the fruit of the Spirit today?

Blocked

Blocked

Acts 19: ²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

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When I answered the door, my friends were outside asking if I could go to the party. “What party?” I asked nervously. It didn’t matter what their answer was, I knew I wouldn’t get permission to go. I thought of ways to escape the house, but there was no way out. I resorted to a tactic that never worked before. “Everyone else is going.”

• There have been times when I have been blocked from doing something.
• There have been times when I wanted to join the crowd but could not.
• There have been times when I simply wanted to be part of the group without knowing what was going on.

The crowd in Ephesus was not having a party. They wanted to worship the goddess Artemis so they could make money on idols. They became furious over Paul’s words of love stating JESUS was and is the only GOD. A mob formed and protests took to the street. Many people didn’t know who they were angry at, but some did and seized Paul’s companions. Paul was blocked.

• GOD wants me to have the heart to serve.
• GOD wants me to be confident in HIS protection.
• GOD wants me to use wisdom rather than emotion.

Rushing in when the situation is heated leads to hurt people and no resolution. Unfortunately, this fight had to happen. I mean, when everything was calm, the greedy people lulled others into following a false god. But the true GOD was being overlooked. GOD wants me to be ready to speak about JESUS, not just say the word “GOD.” I am glad HE enables me to freely speak about HIM.

• Are you being blocked when it comes to speaking about JESUS?
• Is the situation too volatile to say the name of JESUS?
• Will you have patience because GOD hears you and will make a way for you to continue to speak on HIS behalf?

Worthless Commerce

Worthless Commerce

Acts 19: ²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

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Needing money, I quickly thought of ideas for businesses that would bring in income quickly. I looked at triangle shaped schemes, get rich quick investments and begging a crowd for a few dollars each. None of them had any appeal. I felt lost.

• There were times when I worried about money.
• There were times when I considered doing “anything” for money.
• There were times when I felt desperate enough to do something “temporarily” for money that GOD would not be pleased with.

Demetrius was a wealthy, known businessman in the community. He brought the business community together to speak against Paul, who was speaking about JESUS being GOD. Demetrius knew his business would be hurt if people believed in JESUS. Instead of changing professions, he formed a mob.

• GOD wants me to keep HIS ways in front of me.
• GOD wants me to base my decisions on HIS commands.
• GOD wants me to let HIM handle those who will not follow HIM.

Desperation for money can bring on some extreme thoughts. I mean, when I walked in fear, I would lie cheat and steal to get a few dollars. BUT GOD showed me another way. GOD wants me to show love rather than hate when it comes to business.

HE is pleased when I pray for my enemies and treat all people fairly. Bowing down to GOD shows HIM I fear HIM in a healthy way. I am grateful HIS way is always solid.

• Are you lying to yourself about your profession?
• Is GOD pleased at what you do on your job or your business?
• Will you look at the examples of JESUS and believe only in HIM for your next move?

Driven

Driven

Acts 19: ²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” ²² He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

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Wanting to be better, I took class after class after class. I read about areas where I felt I was deficient. When I felt I was ready, I mustered up the confidence to ask for certain positions that allowed me to rise to higher levels. I did what it took to make things happen.

• There were times when I worked extremely hard to achieve “my” goal.
• There were times when I studied hard to fully understand how to reach “my” goal.
• There were times when I felt I just had to do something to satisfy “my” goal.

Paul traveled all over, spreading the gospel of JESUS. He felt led to also go to Rome. He knew this was going to be a very difficult place so he prepared himself and sent two of his younger helpers away to another location. He was driven to speak the truth about JESUS.

• GOD wants me to be ready to speak about JESUS at a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to be brave enough to speak about JESUS, not just imply HIM.
• GOD wants me to be prepared to speak about my relationship with JESUS as often as I can.

When JESUS placed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, HE did not mean for me to remain silent and hide what HE did for me. HE wants me to speak about HIM, pray with people and show silent examples. Life is all about JESUS. I am grateful HE leads me and allows to speak about HIM.

• What are you trying to accomplish?
• Do you think your accomplishment will make you “better?”
• Will you add telling someone about JESUS to your purpose in life today?

Scared Straight

Scared Straight

Acts 19: ¹⁷ When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. ¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

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“Jackpot, I found a checkbook” a friend of mine said. Broke and hungry we thought of ways we could use this to our advantage, although I felt something say “this is wrong.” We didn’t want to “steal” so we simply went to the grocery store and bought goods that would last us a month. On the way home my car broke down. The cost to repair was almost exactly half of what we spent.

• There were times when I knew I was doing something wrong but did it anyway.
• There were times when I lied to myself, trying to justify what I knew was wrong.
• There were times when I thought I could get away with something only to find myself in a worse spot.

Some people who wanted notoriety, tried to cast out demons in the name of JESUS who Paul preached about. A demon responded to them through the possessed man and stripped them naked, beating them bloody in the process. The news of this scared many. They believed in JESUS, confessed what they had done and turned from their deep sin.

• GOD wants me to come to HIM when I am not scared.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS when things are going well.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS gift of love when I am not worried, afraid or hurt.

Love is shown by GOD all the time. Unfortunately, I ignore it until something goes wrong. Sometimes something major has to go wrong for me to turn my eyes to GOD. Fortunately for me, GOD is gentle, kind, peaceful and full of love.

Not only does HE allow me to choose a path of calamity, HE does not rub it in my face when I return to HIM, begging HIM for forgiveness. Instead, HE welcomes me back with open loving arms. I am glad GOD’s grace is sufficient.

• Are you hiding something?
• Do you think you are getting away with the thing you did?
• How long do you want to remain a prisoner to your hidden sin?
• Will you confess publicly what you have done and turn away from your sins by believing JESUS is your Savior today?

Being Known

Being Known

Acts 19: ¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

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Traveling with the top executive of the company had its perks. We had a long layover at an airport so we went to an exclusive area where we could wait and eat. When I got to the door they asked me my name. I told her and she replied “I’m sorry, we don’t have your name on our list.” “Oh, he’s with me” the executive said. They let me in. “One day…” I said to myself.

• There were times when I wanted to be known.
• There were times when I wanted to be in the club.
• There were times when I wanted to have a name for myself, not just ride on someone else’s name.

GOD did extraordinary miracles through Paul. Seven sons of Sceva saw Paul’s popularity and tried to fight demons using JESUS’ and Paul’s names. One demon replied, “JESUS I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Their desire to be known backfired.

• GOD is pleased with me because I gave my life to HIM.
• GOD knows me through my relationship with JESUS.
• GOD has written my name in HIS hand so no one can rip me away from HIS saving grace.

Being known by GOD is the single most important relationship to crave. Celebrities rise and fall, BUT GOD remains forever. Exclusive clubs where humans gather will be torn down as JESUS steps into the picture upon HIS return. Until then, GOD wants me to make HIS name known even if people do not know my name. I am glad JESUS knows me and I know HIM.

• Are you seeking to make a name for yourself?
• Do you want to be known by associating your name with a celebrity?
• Will you stop seeking the spotlight for a moment and allow JESUS to be known through you?