“On Location with Luke”-63

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 21

You probably recall that we said that Paul and his companions stayed with Philip, the Evangelist, in his home. We are informed that Philip had four virgin daughters that prophesied. After these girls, there are no others spoken of in the New Testament who had this gift. Perhaps the Holy Spirit mentions this because it must be a testimony of a Godly upbringing. There is no indication that they used it with men. In fact, during their stay, "….there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus." (From Verse 10). He did an unusual thing. He took Paul's girdle, bound his own hands and feet, and delivered a message from the Holy Spirit. This is what he shared: "….So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." (From Verse 11). Luke, and the others there, urged Paul not to go. His response was what might be expected of a man of God, such as Paul. "Then Paul answered, 'What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus'" (Verse 13). Seeing that he would not be persuaded, they stopped trying. They said, "….The will of the Lord be done." (From Verse 14). This should be the concern of every true believer. Selah! God had told Paul that he would go through suffering. Conscious of God's will, he was determined to follow it, no matter the cost. He even did this when Christian friends, who undoubtedly meant well, tried to stop him. What an example! God, give us the grace to be that firm in our commitment to your will. Ron

“On location with Luke”-62

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 21

After the sad parting at Miletus, Paul's party sailed straight to Coos. They went from Coos to Rhodes on the day following. They next left Rhodes and reached Patara. They then found a ship going to Phoenicia, went aboard, and set forth. They sailed by Cyprus, which was on their left side, sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre, where the ship unloaded. Finding disciples there, the group spent seven days with them. These disciples through the Spirit said to Paul "….that he should not go up to Jerusalem." (From Verse 4). When it came time to move on, the disciples, with their wives and children, saw Paul and his companions off. They accompanied Paul and the others until they were out of the city. At the shore, they knelt and prayed. When it was time to board, the disciples returned to their homes and Paul's party sailed to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and spent a day with them. After leaving Ptolemais on the following day, their next destination was Caesarea. Here they stayed with Philip, the Evangelist, who was one of the seven. (See Acts 6:5). What happened in Philip's home is our theme for tomorrow, God willing. Selah! Do you see a pattern here? Within the flow of the Holy Spirit's working, God's people can and often do experience danger, pain, abuse, make sacrifices, leave dear friends behind, all the while preaching, teaching, nurturing, and seeing a great many people coming to saving faith in our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. In this costly and rewarding ministry of the Gospel, they steadily move forward in God's leading. In the center of His perfect will, they move toward the ultimate goal, until that moment when it will be worth it all!    Ron

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6).

 

 

 

“On Location with Luke”-61

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 20

Paul had just told the Ephesian Elders that they would see his face no more. How that must have brought sorrow to their hearts. He reminded them that he had faithfully ministered "….all the counsel of God." (From verse 27). He went on record that he was free from the blood of all men because of his faithful witness. Then, he gave them a solemn charge that any faithful minister could profitably give his people today and it would apply if he was staying or leaving that assembly. This, under inspiration, is what he said, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Verse 28). He warned them that "….grievous wolves (shall) enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (From Verses 29-30). He reminded them of his faithful warnings to everyone, night and day, with tears, for three years. Having said that, he committed them to God and the word of His grace. He went over again with them his own Godly lifestyle. This difficult scene concluded, as they knelt and prayed, wept sore, and embraced him, with great sorrow because of not seeing him again this side of Heaven. Selah! What can we glean from this for God's people today? No matter how faithfully and effectively we preach God's Truth, Satan will always try to infiltrate God's people with error. The only protection is the intense, consistent, effective, communication of sound doctrine, with application. It must be done with the anointing of the Holy Spirit! "….the letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life." (From II Corinthians 3:6).    Ron

“On Location with Luke”-60

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 20

After the scare with Eutychus, Luke and those with him sailed to Assos. Paul decided to go on foot and join his companions at Assos. Meeting them there, he sailed with them to Mitylene. In the days that followed, they came close to Chios, stopped at Samos, lingered at Trogyllium, and came to Miletus. Paul planned to sail by Ephesus in order to make Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. However, he sent a message requesting the elders from Ephesus to come and meet with him in Miletus. When they joined him, he reminded them that, even with the stress and danger, he humbly served the Lord. He kept back nothing that was profitable to them. He taught them publickly, and from house to house, preaching repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. He informed them that he was going bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing what might happen, except that the Holy Spirit indicated that bonds and afflictions were waiting for him. Even with the possibilities of suffering and death, he was going. He told them that, "….none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (From Verse 24). He added that they would see his face no more. He went on to tell them that he was pure from the blood of all men because he hadn't shunned to declare to them all the counsel of God. He then gave them a solemn charge that we will examine tomorrow, God willing. Selah! What passion Paul had to give forth God's Truth without fear or compromise. God develop in us a passion that will motivate us to serve with the same intensity!    Ron

“On Location with Luke”-59

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 20

Paul called the disciples together after the uproar in Ephesus ceased, embraced them, and left for Macedonia. After he had gone through those parts and had given much exhortation to the people there, he moved on to Greece. He spent three months in Greece. He planned to go to Syria but learning that the Jews were lying in wait, he decided to return through Macedonia. Eight fellow laborers went ahead of Paul and those who were with him, and waited for them at Troas. Paul and those who journeyed with him sailed from Philippi, after the feast of unleavened bread, and arriving in Troas five days later, spent a week there. Paul, on the first day of the week, as the disciples gathered to break bread, preached to them. That evening,  knowing that he was leave the next day, he preached until midnight. (I take great comfort in that)! A young man by the name of Eutychus sat in a high up window and as Paul kept on preaching, Eutychus fell asleep. He fell from the third storey and was taken up dead. Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, announced that he was alive. Paul came back up, broke bread, ate, and talked with the folk there until daybreak, and left. "And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted" (Verse 12). Selah! A couple of lessons emerge from this episode. First, even if we were able to preach like Paul, "the brain cannot retain more than the seat can endure." Second, It's costly, one way or another, to go to sleep when God is speaking through His Word. For Eutychus' sake, it was good that God used Paul to overcome the tragedy. However, if we fall asleep in church, Paul is no longer around.    Ron

“On Location with Luke”-58

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 19

The craftsmen, thoroughly aroused by the threat to their businesses from Paul's and others' preaching that idols are not gods, were getting people stirred up to put a stop to it. They used a rallying cry to arouse emotions. They  "…. cried out, saying, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.'  " (From Verse 28). They filled the whole city with confusion. Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel were hauled into the theatre. Paul sought for a chance to address the mob but the disciples prevented him from doing this. Other friends, among the chiefs of Asia, urged him not to go into the theatre. Alexander was singled out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. He beckoned with the hand, in an attempt to offer a defense. When it was learned that he was a Jew, the crowd went wild and with one voice cried out, over and over, for about two hours, "…'Great is Diana of the Ephesians.'" (From Verse 34). When the townclerk finally calmed the frenzied mob down, he offered some advice. He suggested that everyone knew how Ephesus was a worshipper of Diana. He warned them to quiet down and do nothing rashly. He reminded them that these men had done nothing chargeable. He told them that they had a legal process to deal with something, if it was wrong. He added that Demetrius and the craftsmen had legal recourse, if they had a case. He further informed them that they might be called to account for this riot. After making his points, he dismissed them. Once again Satan's strategy backfired, as the flow of the Spirit continued. Selah! God will always have the last Word. We can trust His wise plan when things are smooth and when the path is full of danger. If the worst happens, He will only take His own child home.  Ron

“On Location with Luke”-57

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 19

The things that happened at Ephesus, the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul's extended preaching ministry and his being used to heal the sick, and the incident with the seven sons of Sceva, all were used of God to bring many to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Good works became common for those who experienced salvation. One instance of this is recorded by Luke. "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them…." (From Verse 19). The value of these books was 50,000 pieces of silver. The impact of the Word of God increased and prevailed. Paul, thinking ahead, planned to travel to Jerusalem and to Rome. Sending Timothy and Erastus ahead, Paul remained in Asia for a season. So many were coming to Jesus and having their lives profoundly changed that it created a stir about the Way. (See Verse 23). One of the things that changed was worshiping idols. New Christians turned from these idols to serve the Living God, creating an economic threat. Demetrius made silver shrines for Diana who was considered a great goddess. He called fellow tradesmen together warning them that their livelihood was in jeopardy. Throughout all Asia, Paul was teaching people that idols made with hands were not gods. God used Paul to persuade many people and turn them from these false gods. Seeing that Diana's temple and following were likely to be destroyed, the tradesmen became filled with wrath. What would they do? Return tomorrow as trouble breaks out for Paul and his companions. Selah! There is a challenge here for us. Is God so in control of our ministry that it is impacting Satan's domain? If not, how could we see God make it that effective?   Ron

“On Location with Luke”-56

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 19

Relentlessly, Satan introduces new types of opposition. He made use of certain vagabond Jews who were exorcists. These were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests. They tried hijacking the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached, to cast out evil spirits. Imagine the shock when the evil spirit answered "….and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" (From Verse 15). Why the evil spirit answered the way it did, we don't know. However, one thing is obvious and that is that he wasn't leaving through the efforts of these seven men. Had they succeeded, they would have taken credit, thus robbing God of the glory due Him. It never pays to trifle with sacred matters. God allowed the man with the evil spirit to leap on them, overcome all seven, and prevail against them. This encounter left them wounded, naked, and fleeing. News of this spread to all the Jews and Greeks who were also dwelling at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. "And many that believed, came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds" (Verse 18). Some of their good deeds aroused the anger of the trade union. (More about that tomorrow, God willing). Selah! We probably won't try to do anything as foolish as what the seven did. Nevertheless, how often do we try to do the work of the Lord in the energy of our human strength? Let's be yielded to and dependent on Him to work in and through us.   Ron

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His Might" (Ephesians 6:10).

“On Location with Luke”-55

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 19

After the time with John's disciples, Paul went again to the synagogue. There for about three months, he spoke boldly, "….disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." (From Verse 8). As happens too often, many hardened their hearts and believed not. They even went so far as to speak evil of the Way before the multitude. (Someone described this kind of response in this way: "Light rejected brings night; light received brings more light)." Paul left them because of their rejection. Did Paul give up in discouragement? No, nor should we! He took the disciples with him and shifted location to the school of one Tyrannus. Paul labored in this new opportunity for the space of two years. The net result of his ministry? "….All they which dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." (From Verse 10). God granted special miracles by the hands of Paul. Cloths that Paul had touched were given to those with diseases and/or evil spirits and they were cured. These miracles gave Divine authenticity to what Paul preached. This enabling also filled the gap, motivating people to believe, until the revelation was complete. The completed revelation is sufficient to inspire belief today. Nevertheless, God recognizes human nature and sometimes a miracle, even in our day, is instrumental in bringing some to the truth of God's Word. Selah! What if Paul had given up? Would his ministry to all Asia never have happened? We don't know. However, we need to know that what appears to be failure may be a prelude to a still greater ministry.    Ron

“On Location with Luke”-54

Highlights in Acts-Chapter 19

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul came to Ephesus. He met some disciples who appear not to have gone beyond the teaching of John, the Baptist. He confronts them with a question regarding the Holy Spirit. "….Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (From Verse 2). Reputable scholars tell us that it could be correctly rendered as follows: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Their answer is enlightening. They replied, "….We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." (From Verse 2). Romans 8:9 contains this declaration: "….Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." It seems that these folk were basically the disciples of John. Paul asked them this question: "….Unto what then were ye baptized?" They responded, "….Unto John's baptism." (From Verse 3). Paul then explained to them that John directed them to Christ, as the one to believe on and to follow. Somehow, the significance of that had escaped them. To their credit, "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (verse 5). At this point, Paul laid his hands upon them and the Holy Ghost came on them. I see this as their incorporation, their Spiritual baptism, their immersion, into the Body of Christ (i.e; the church). Confirming their new status, they spoke with a language that was not their own and prophesied. This ability was God-given to these people. About twelve men were enabled to proclaim the Gospel and preach. This period of time was transitional and God's Spirit was gradually forming the Body of Christ, according to God's plan and timing. Selah! How many people today have received truth but not saving truth? They have understood to a point but not yet to the point of their need to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord and trust in His saving work on the cross for them. Let us, like Paul, be used to bring them to Him.    Ron