EMMDEV 2011-08-19 [Ephesians] Intro 8: Radical 180

(After the sevens sons of Sceva were beaten up...)
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 their evil deeds. 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. Acts19:17-20

It was a pretty expensive bonfire! A drachma was a silver coin equating to about a day's wages. The scrolls burned in the wake of the "Sceva Incident" were valued at 50,000 times a day's wage!

This gives us some idea of the stakes involved for those who Paul wrote his letter to.

Ephesus was the most important city in western Asia Minor (now Turkey). It had a harbor that at that time opened into the Aegean Sea. Because it was also at an intersection of major trade routes, Ephesus became a commercial center. It had a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (or Artemis in Greek)
There were many temptations in Ephesus!

The Sceva Incident taught God's people to be whole-hearted in their commitment to God. There was no room for divided loyalties.

The act of repentance is often described as a 180-degree turn.
The Christians in Ephesus were:
1. Filled with a sense of awe before God.
2. They really believed.
3. They confessed their sins
4. They broke with the past in a radical way (their temptations went up in smoke!)

When this happened, God's Message spread even faster. This is counter-intuitive: One would think that the high cost would turn people away, but it seems that people were (and are) longing for the "pearl of great price."

What are you willing to give up in your pursuit of Christ?

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-18 [Ephesians] Intro 7: Faith by proxy

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 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 I know about Paul, 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. Acts19:13-16

While God did healing by proxy through Paul's prayers and the hankies and scarves that were brought to Paul, it is impossible to have a relationship with Jesus by proxy.

The seven sons of Sceva thought that they could reduce Christianity to an incantation or spell - they thought they could go into a hairy situation with second-hand faith. They thought that name-dropping would be enough. They learned (big time!) that it wasn't!

While the story seems comical - seven guys beaten up and deprived of their clothes by one guy - it is a very sobering reminder that we should not tackle the powers of darkness with second-hand faith.

The name of Jesus is not a lucky charm or the way to end a spell - using the name of Jesus requires that we know Him and love Him. We need to have Him as Saviour AND Lord in our lives...

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-17 [Ephesians] Intro 6: Miracles

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. Acts19:11

It's really wonderful to read of the miracles that took place in Ephesus! It is important to notice that the miracles did not take place in isolation. They took place in an environment of regular teaching, worship, dedication and sacrifice.

Paul taught the folk in Ephesus for two whole years. They faced opposition and criticism but remained enthusiastic and faithful. There were sacrifices made - from his other letters we know that Paul worked as a self-supporting missionary in all his church planting endeavours. We will also see a little later in the chapter that the congregation were willing to leave behind their old lives and that there was great awe and respect for God.

From the above observations I think it is safe to say that the folk in Ephesus were on a solid foundation, well-grounded and not caught up in sensation-seeking, focussing only on the miracles (although there were some adherents to the Ephesian church that were doing this - we'll look at them tomorrow...)

The other important thing about the miracles is that we encounter this idea of "praying by proxy" for the first time here - that people could bring an object belonging to the sick or possessed person to Paul for prayer and healing would take place. We also read elsewhere in Acts we read that people were healed when Peter's shadow fell on them (Acts 5:15).

This fulfils a promise Jesus made to the disciples: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (Jn.14:12)

Very often we are tempted to think that the age of miracles is past. But when God's people come together in awe, dedication and commitment for teaching, fellowship and worship, great things happen.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-12 [Ephesians] Intro 5: Persistence

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts19:8-10

If you don't look carefully you'll miss it... Look at verse 10... Paul stuck it out for TWO YEARS. For 3 months in the synagogue and 21 months in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, Paul had daily discipleship sessions with the disciples in Ephesus.

Two years of patient teaching. Setting the example, answering questions, spreading the word. These sessions then spread by word of mouth from one person to another until Luke, the author of Acts, makes the bold claim that everyone in the province had heard about Christ.

This is persistence. In spite of persecution and resistance, Paul carried on day by day, doing the thing he did best: teaching. And day by day, the word spread from his listener's mouths to the ears of others throughout the province.

"What did you do in Ephesus Paul?"
"I lectured every day for two years."
"Oh... not very exciting.."
"It reached the whole province"
"No way!"
"But it did"

So don't lose heart - do what God has called you to do - whether it is to teach, serve, love, parent, or pray. Persist and watch how God multiplies your efforts!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-11 [Ephesians] Intro 4: Spiritual Birth

5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. Acts19:5-7

The small group of Ephesian seekers, who had their curiosity piqued by Paul's first "seed-sowing" visit, then had their "seeds watered" by Apollos' excellent Old Testament preaching. Now, on Paul's return, they have come to a full understanding of the gospel and are baptised. This is their moment of conversion.

With the conversion that has taken place, the Holy Spirit is poured out on them in a powerful way. This is one of a number of significant outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts:
- The first was in Jerusalem on the first disciples.
- The next was among the Samaritans
- Then on the Gentiles in the home of Cornelius
- Now on a group of folk who whose picture of Jesus had been incomplete

The wonderful truth is that the Holy Spirit is poured out on all who put their faith in Jesus. "...no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." (1Cor12:3)
When we discover and understand God's love for us, it is His Holy Spirit who is at work in us: "because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom5:5)

In all likelihood the "tongues" were known languages so that onlookers (who spoke in those languages) would hear the praises of God and recognise that a miracle was taking place. This is what happened in Acts 2

When we come to true faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit is the agent and midwife of our rebirth. In the case of the church is Ephesus, the receiving of the Holy Spirit was accompanied with signs and wonders. This does not mean that these signs and wonders are the norm - not everyone who gives their heart to Jesus bursts forth in prophecy and tongues - but it happens here to cement the start of the church.

It is wonderful to know that whether or not there are "bells and flashes," all who give their lives to Christ receive the Holy Spirit.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-10 [Ephesians] Intro 3 - Getting Clarity

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.

4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts19:1-3

(Quick Recap:) In the previous chapter, we saw how Paul was travelling through Ephesus and went to preach in the synagogue. He promised to come back because there had not been time to tell the whole story of the gospel.

Then we saw how a Jew named Apollos came after Paul. He spoke a lot about Jesus from the perspective of the Old Testament, but his message was really the message preached by John the Baptist: "Repent and get ready for the coming of the Messiah." (End of recap)

The people in Ephesus were baptised, not in the name of Christ, but with John the Baptist's baptism which was a generic baptism of repentance. (Basically they were saying: "We're sorry that we have sinned." But they did not have a clear picture that Jesus was their saviour.) In a sense we could say that Apollos had brought them to a place where they were "proto-christians" (one step away from Christianity.)

We know that Priscilla and Acquila later explained things more fully to Apollos.

So when Paul returns, he brings them to that final step: Realising that only Jesus can save us and trusting Him as our Lord and Saviour.

These folk were not really Christians before this encounter. They had merely taken on some religious traditions and practices. With Paul's help they came to recognise that it is only and all because of Jesus that we are saved. Their baptism symbolised their wholehearted trust in Him.

Today many people are the same. They think that "being good" or "being sorry for our sins" or "trying to obey the ten commandments" will be enough. We, like Paul, need to bring clarity. We need to introduce them to the full work of Christ.

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-05 [Ephesians] Intro 2 - Seeds Watered

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Acts 18:24

Although Paul only had time to plant the seeds of the gospel before he caught his ship, God ensured that the church in Ephesus would grow. He sent Apollos to water the seeds that Paul planted.

We don't know a huge amount about Apollos:
We know that
- he was Jewish
- he knew the Old Testament very very well
- he was a persuasive speaker
- he was passionate about Christ
- he still had some things to learn
- he became a leading figure in the churches in Asia Minor
- he probably wrote the letter we know as "Hebrews"

We don't know how he came to faith and became passionate about Christ. We don't know how he landed up in Ephesus. Did God prompt him, was he there on business, or was he also just passing through?

Whatever his background story and whatever the reasons were for being in Ephesus, God used Apollos to be a blessing to the church in Ephesus. With his passion and skill he galvanised the congregation and in return for his dedication and commitment, God also provided Priscilla and Aquila to mentor and guide him.

Sometimes we worry about God's work and are tempted the think that people (or ourselves) are indispensable. This passage is a good reminder that this is not the case. When Paul could not be there to water the seeds he had planted, God provided Apollos, and when Apollos had some gaps, Priscilla and Aquila were on hand to guide him.

Thank You Lord that you are always providing for your church!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-04 [Ephesians] Intro 1 - I'll be BACK!

I got a number of suggestions for the next EmmDev theme and liked the idea of doing Ephesians. (Thanks Julie!)
So we'll journey our way through the book picking up key thoughts.
But first, some background...
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They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. Acts18:19-21

Ephesus was a leading commercial city of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), the capital of the province and the warden of the temple of Artemis (Diana).

Ephesus would become a missionary centre or base that Paul worked from. His letter to them contains no rebukes or reprimands and from church history we know that the Apostle John would have a fruitful ministry there.

It's useful to see how this church was started:

Paul was "passing through" when he went through Ephesus for the first time.

Although his first visit was really because he was passing through, it doesn't stop him from sharing his faith and making a difference. He has a ship to catch, but he goes to the synagogue and makes an impression of the Jewish Community.

This is Paul's nature: there's always time to talk about Jesus even when he's just passing through.

His words make an impression and people are hungry for more, but the ship is waiting and he has to say: "I'll be BACK - Deo Volente" (If God wills)

We know that Paul did come back later on and wonderful things happened.

But here's our lesson for today: what if Paul had been in too much of hurry? What if he hadn't taken time to plant some seeds? What if he said to himself "I'm pretty tired, I'm just passing through, I'll share my faith another time...?"

And after, doing a bit of a "hit and run," he kept his promise and came back. (More tomorrow...)

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-03 [Practical QT] From Amy Carmichael

Amy Carmichael was a famous missionary in India who devoted her life to reaching the children of India. This devotion written by her makes a nice addendum to the series I did on Daily Devotions two years ago.... It is also a nice complement to the stunning sermon Lentikile preached on Sunday.
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For she thought, "If I could just touch His garments, I will get well." Mark5:28

Many of us try to have a regular quiet time. As we do so, may each of us touch at least the hem of His garment, and receive wholeness in the matter for which we seek Him.

One knows when this has occurred. It is a day when something happens that is different from just reading our Bible or devotional book, or even just praying and asking for the thing.
We touch Him, and all is changed.

WHAT happens? And who can tell HOW it happens?
We only know that something has passed from Him to us:
Courage to do the difficult task we feared.
Patience to bear with that one particular trying person.
Inner strength to go on when we were sure we could not.
A sweet freshness in our spirit,
complete inner happiness,
deep-flowing peace.

God's way of passing by, of letting His "hem" come near us, is to take some single word in His Book and make it breathe Spirit and life to us. Then relying upon that word - meditating, feeding our soul on it - we find it is suddenly possible to go from strength to strength.
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From "His Miracles (Devotions for Every Day of the Year) (Integrity Publishers 2004) pg.174

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/

EMMDEV 2011-08-02 [Treasure Cupboard] Ebenezer

Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer saying, “Up to here the Lord has helped us.” 1Samuel7:12

Today is the Emmanuel Congregation's 19th birthday. There is much to give thanks for and many amazing highlights in our journey thus far. But I don't want to draw too much attention to the congregation, but rather to the true Emmanuel - "God with us!"

Our text passage is part of the saga of the Israelites being reckless with the Ark of the Covenant, treating it like a good luck charm and taking it into battle like a lucky rabbit's foot.

The ark gets captured by the Philistines and is eventually restored to Israel. But the conflict with the Philistines continues and after long desperation the people gather together to humble themselves before the Lord. But as they do this, the Philistines attack!

Samuel continues to make the offerings before the people and God thunders out against the Philistines throwing them into disarray and confusion and the Israelites simply have to pursue their fleeing enemy.

Along the way Samuel erects a stone, "Ebenezer: - Thus far has the Lord delivered us."

It is worth celebrating milestones, victories and birthdays - especially if it allows us the opportunity to acknowledge and praise the God who has brought us "thus far."

Please join me in a prayer of thanks and praise to a God who has brought a congregation through so much in the last 19 years!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/