Acts Chapter 19 Verses 13 – 16

• So these were like exorcists for hire and they saw real power in the presence and preaching of Paul. And so, being good business men, began to copy what they probably perceived as a trend.  It’s working for them, our competitor, let’s do it here!  In 1952 a company called Kirsch Bottling in Brooklyn, New York released a sugar-free ginger ale called “No-Cal.”  It was a local hit…and so in 1958, Royal Crown Cola launched Diet Rite.  Then in 1962, Dr. Pepper launched Diet Dr. Pepper and then in ’63, Coca-Cola and Pepsi joined the fun!  It’s just good business!  (Actually, last night I dreamt I was swimming in an ocean of orange soda…I guess it was just a Fanta sea!) (Reminds me of the time I got hit in the head with a soda…don’t worry, it was a soft drink!!  Or that one time I had a job crushing soda cans…it was soda pressing!!! Sheesh!!)
• But notice this crazy odd scene. The demon wins!  There’s a bit of a pattern here…a lesson…in truth, what they were proclaiming, they had no part in…they were posers – fakes!  And so their faith, or perhaps lack of faith…it was powerless against evil.  I SO pray this is NOT you!  Saying the right things, even believing the right things….but you have not given yourself, committed fully and so evil is just plain overpowering you in aspects and avenues of your life!
• Check this out…first the demon mocks and discourages…, “Who are you? Others can do it, others have power…but who are you!?”  Then the demon attacks…launches a full-on offensive…and eventually overpowers them…  I want to have power in my walk and power to overcome evil.  Takes faith to do that  (just be so close to Jesus that the demonic is not around…good way to do it)…these were faithless…right thoughts, right beliefs, right words, no faith…no power…and they end up stripped and traumatized!

Acts Chapter 19 Verses 17 – 18

• (Mark of ministry – the name of JESUS is magnified…not the name of the tool). Ephesus was THE center of pagan worship in the ancient world.  The temple of Diana was more magnificent than the Greek Parthenon.  More vast than the Colosseum!   Ancient records written by visitors to Ephesus described Diana’s temple (that sat on a hillside overlooking the city) as a building that reached to the clouds, grandiose and unmatched.  And this temple really set the heart-beat of the culture…Every teenage girl had to serve for a time as a temple priestess…and worship of Diana was entirely accepted in that culture and place…
• And so as people were coming to Christ it is evident in these verses that they were accepting Jesus and yet living their lives, going with the flow, as they always had…but as God worked in their lives and in that place…they began to feel the weight of what sin does…tears your mind and heart away from the God you do so love…they didn’t know what they were doing was entirely demonic! It was what they had been taught…but as the Word of God took root in their hearts, one by one, they came confessing and coming clean.  Revival broke out…

Acts Chapter 19 Verse 19

• A picture of repentance and revival…they come to God to be made clean and leave their junk behind…burn it up…costs them greatly…but its not who they are anymore.

Acts Chapter 19 Verse 20

• How will the Word of God grow mightily and prevail in your heart, mind, house and church? Love the Lord your God, man.  What does that look like!?  Put Him first!  Whatever it is that keeps you from Him, burn it!  Turn from it…even if it costs you…it’s a simple simple simple truth…yet many times a drastically difficult deed…but you have to ask yourself (or be honest with yourself)…whom do I love?  This false god, or God?  This passing pleasure or Jesus?  What or whom are you burning in your life?  There’s your answer.

Acts Chapter 19 Verse 21

• “Purposed in the Spirit” is not a phrase that we are well acquainted with. The thought here is that Paul basically placed his purpose at the discretion of the Spirit of God.  “God, what would you have me to do?”  The word in the Greek is tithemi which is actually related to the word tithe and it means to lay it before the Lord.  That’s what Paul was doing.  Day to day, trip to trip…and then, he would set out…

Acts Chapter 19 Verses 22 – 29a

• Paul purposed in the Spirit, Demetrius purposed in the dollar…Paul was driven to love and serve folks, Demetrius was driven to love and serve himself. And Demetrius wasn’t feeling the love…so he incites this uproar of sorts by calling together the merchants…those that were profiting.  A mob stirs up…why?  One man was making less money then before.  Do you see that?
• When there are protests and marches and sit-ins and the like, before you buy into the purpose based solely on it’s point-in-time popularity, do your homework…find out not only what they are shouting, but What started it all?  “Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” was the cry of the crowd, but the truth, the source is that Demetrius heard, “Great, is the pocket book of Demetrius!”  Don’t fall for the crowds, man.  You may be shocked to find out what you’re actually marching for…
• “This Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands!” Isn’t that such a compliment!!  Why?  Paul wasn’t attacking them!  He wasn’t waging war on them!  Opposing them was not at all his work!  His work in the region was simply to love God, love people and share the Gospel!  Never does he make the suggestion or proclamation to close down the temple of Diana!  Why?  NO need!
• As people hear and accept the Gospel, come to Jesus, they naturally (by virtue of their second nature – born again by the Spirit of God into the Body of Christ) they will naturally stop worshipping Diana! I love to see the Holy Spirit work!  He is so thorough!  You know who is not?  ME!  But how often do I step in and do His job!  WAY too often!  Beautiful tall sky scrapers being built downtown and I just climb into that cockpit of that crane and push the operator out and say, “Naw, man…I got this!”  We’d have no building!  What we would have would be a carnival ride!! HA!!
• Listen, I see it too. I know you see it.  The way he is or the attitude she has…and I WANT them to change and to be free and all…and I may even talk to them about it…but I have no axe to grind…if they change because I told them to then to me goes all the glory…purpose in the Spirit!  Step back, love God, love them, share the Gospel, get out of the cockpit…

Acts Chapter 19 Verses 29 – 30

• Don’t you just LOVE Paul!? Trouble in the city!  Mob is stirred up, he’s a/the primary target, but because his boys are in trouble he’s ready to run in…I mean, what is not to love about this guy!!

Acts Chapter 19 Verses 31 – 34

• This is crazy right!? Two hours solid screaming out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”  Crazy right?  We still see this today!  How long was the parade and party in 2016 the night the Broncos won the Super Bowl!?  Mardi Gras lasts weeks every year!  Political campaigns begin 2 years out!  All of these things people dump their enthusiasm and money into and even identity!!!  Many Christians seek the Lord only 2 hours out of every 168!  Great is Diana of the Ephesians!!

Acts Chapter 19 Verses 35 – 41

• Check this out! This word for assembly that Luke uses is   You know what that word is?  It’s church!  Blows me away!  To whom do you belong this morning?  I pray you belong to the One who has promised and provided Himself…the One who proclaimed openly and even with His life…that He belongs to you!!