This week, we dove into Acts 19 and the beginning of Paul's ministry in the famous Ephesus.
Luke then records a CRAZY story about some men who saw the work of God through Paul and tried to replicate it by casting out a demon in Jesus name. But they do not know Jesus themselves, and because of this are unable to cast it out which results in all the men being beaten to the point they run away "naked and wounded"!
But what is even more incredible, as if that is not enough, is that this event results in the name of Jesus being honored and held in awe all over Ephesus, and Luke records believers that the believers begin to rid themselves of the influences of the pagan sorcery and witchcraft in order to serve and obey the Lord!
Acts 19:19-20:
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
There are many things in our lives that influence us, just like the believers in Ephesus, and they often threaten our faithfulness to God! Many of us can probably relate to those Ephesian believers as they clung to things that influenced them, things that made them feel safe, secure, valued, and yet was powerless to save them!
Philippians 3:7-8:
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Jesus is not powerless. The power displayed through Paul is the same power that draws us into a relationship with Jesus. The influence of the Temple of Artemis is gone and faded, but the influence of Christ and His Gospel is still changing lives and hearts!
Questions to ask your student: