082706

What on Earth Are You Doing for Heaven’s Sake?
Maximizing God-Given Opportunities


Acts 19:1-7 (Monday)
“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 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." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 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." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.” (NIV)
1) While in Ephesus on one of his missionary journeys Paul found some disciples that had not received the Holy Spirit which was promised by Jesus Christ to all believers (John 15:26-27). Why not?
2) Some have used this passage in Acts 19, and those in Acts 2 and Acts 10 to “prove” that receiving Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit are two separate occurrences. Is this your understanding of this passage? Why or why not?
a) Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit came (Acts 1:4), which would empower them for ministry. This occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2). It was at this point that God’s Holy Spirit actually took up His abode in Jewish believers.
i) Prior to Pentecost, God only sent His Spirit for specific works or tasks. The Holy Spirit fell and rose upon man for God-specified periods of time—not with permanency! The Holy Spirit fell on the first king of Israel, Saul (1 Samuel 10:1-9), but left when he fell into presumptuous sin (1 Samuel 10:7-8, 11:6, 13, 15)! David prayed that God not removed His Spirit from Him (Psalms 51:11)! It was only after Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension that the Holy Spirit was able to “set up His home” in the believer’s heart (John 16:5-7)!
b) Also, Jesus commanded the disciples to be His witnesses “…in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There was order and godly wisdom in this command. You recall that in last week’s lesson we looked at God’s promises concerning Israel (Exodus 19:5-6, Isaiah 42:5-7 and Romans 9:3-5). Since salvation was from the Jews, they were to receive the good news of Christ and His Spirit first! Now, if you read over in Acts 10, you’ll notice a second visitation of God’s Spirit fell on the Gentiles! Same Spirit, different peoples and promises!
c) It is important to note that here in Ephesus, the “infilling” or baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of tongues, occurred because Paul wisely discerned that these disciples had only experienced John’s baptism—the baptism of repentance—a baptism that looked forward to a coming Savior! These disciples did not even know of Christ’s baptism of the Holy Spirit—a baptism that looks back upon what Jesus had already accomplished for us on the cross—our salvation! It was necessary for these seekers to come into the fullness of Christ and His Holy Spirit! After these three incidences, the Spirit falling in such a manner was never repeated.
3) What does 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 and Ephesians 1:13-14 tell us is true of all those who place their trust and faith in Christ Jesus?
4) Speaking in tongues and/or the interpretation of different tongues are listed among the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Can you think of some (any) instances where the gift of tongues and/or the interpretation of tongues may be a very necessary work of the Spirit?
5) What does Paul tell the church body in 1 Corinthians 14:23-26 is the true purpose for tongues and prophecy?
6) Of course, there are also those who say tongues are obsolete, no longer a necessary function of the Holy Spirit. What does Romans 11:29 tell us?
7) According to 1 Corinthians 12:1-14, does everyone have the same gift(s)? So, will everyone have the gift of speaking tongues?
a) Without interpretation, speaking in tongues only profits, builds up and/or strengthens the individual speaking them (1 Corinthians 14)! Tongues are of no profit to the church body unless an individual can interpret his/her own tongues, or unless someone in the church body has the gift of interpretation of tongues. Re-read 1 Corinthians 14:2. What is the purpose of our spiritual gift(s)?
8) 1 Corinthians 12:31 tells us to seek a more excellent way. What does 1 Corinthians 13:1 say is that way?
9) Can’t leave this passage without mentioning that Paul made himself available to these disciples! Paul spent much of his time getting to know the Ephesians-asking questions, answering questions, sharing, caring, even spiritually probing. Then, and only then, could Paul address their need—salvation through Jesus Christ! A good example for all of us to follow!
Acts 19:8-10 (Tuesday)
“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 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. 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.” (NIV)
1) For most of his ministry, Paul earnestly sought salvation for his own kinsman, the Jews. It was Paul’s practice that when he entered a city to first go unto his own people! How he loved his kinsman (Romans 9:1-15)! Yet, finding them unwilling, Paul left them behind! What have you left behind for the sake of Christ Jesus? Oh, beloved, look at Jesus’ sweet promise to you (Matthew 19:29)!
2) The word for arguing here is better interpreted, “persuading, convincing, assuring—even, befriending”. Let’s don’t let a particular word phrasing (arguing) give us cause to go out and beat someone over the head with our Bibles! Gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16)!
3) Paul persevered in his witnessing. He spent three months among his own people in the synagogue and another two years of daily discussions with the townspeople. How soon do we tire when we come up against a spiritual “brick wall” that someone has placed in front of us?
4) What is Jesus’ command to us in Matthew 5:41? Why is it so hard to go that extra mile with a lost soul?
5) What promise does Galatians 6:9 hold for those who do not faint?
6) Look over the fruit of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. How many evidences of these “fruits” did Paul exhibit to these people over this 2-3 year period? How effective would we be in bringing others into the kingdom of God if we, too, exhibited such fruit to a lost world?
7) It’s hard to believe that an entire province could hear the word of the Lord during Paul’s lifetime, and yet today, Asia desperately needs missionaries from other lands to come and preach to them the good news! What happened?
8) Before we get too “puffy”—America is ranked fifth among those countries being “evangelized” today! Yes! Other peoples are coming to our shores! America, birthed out of the pursuit of religious freedom, is herself in desperate need to hear the “Good News” of Jesus Christ! Is that sad or what?
a) Does this stir up some urgency to share your faith with those around you? Oh, I pray so! Let’s get busy—the fields are ripe for the harvest (John 4:35)!
9) Why is it better to take others along with you when witnessing out into the mission field? Who set this precedent (Mark 6:7-12)? What was Jesus’ reasoning (Deuteronomy 17:6; Revelation 11:3-13)!
a) Does this apply to witnessing to our co-workers, friends, family?
Acts 19:11-16 (Wednesday)
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 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. 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."Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 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.” (NIV)
1) Have to ask! Do you really believe those TV ministers can send you a piece of a handkerchief and you will be healed? Why or why not? Might want to read Matthew 10:8 for my thoughts on the matter!
2) Remember, Paul was an apostle—taught by the resurrected Christ (Galatians 1:11-24)! Can you think of any reason(s) that God would chose to use handkerchiefs and aprons that had “touched” the apostle Paul to work such awesome miracles among the people? Okay, fast forward to Thursday’s lesson for the most probable answer!
3) Man, everybody wants to get in on a good thing! What we witness in this passage is man—without power, “religion—without God,” the ”the flesh—utterly without hope”! A lesson these foolish men paid dearly to learn!
4) It’s important that we know God knows His own (2 Timothy 2:19)! Oh, be sure, dear one—so does satan and his demons and they tremble!
5) What these foolish men did not know is there is no other name that can release us from spiritual bondage from the world or from our flesh, save our souls, raise us from the dead and give to us the gift of eternal life than that of Jesus Christ (John 6:67-69; Acts 4:12)!
6) In the name of Jesus, believers have been given awesome power and authority (that’s why the demons tremble)—the power and authority to speak to a mountain and tell it to move, to cast out demons, to tread on serpents—to overcome sin and the devil! (Matthew 17:20; Luke 9:1; Luke 10:19; 1 John 5:1-5). As wonderful, encouraging and freeing that knowledge can be in our life and the lives of others, what does Jesus tell us we should truly rejoice over (Luke 10:20)?
Acts 19:17-20 (Thursday)
“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. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 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. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (NIV)
1) What seemed to a very prevalent sin among the Ephesians? Oh, satan is not without his own devices used to deceive foolish people:
a) Did you know that the magicians of Pharaoh’s time actually duplicated the first three miracles God gave Moses against the Egyptians? (Exodus 7:8-12; Exodus 7:15-22; Exodus 8:1-7)
b) What happened when God sent the plague of the gnats? (Exodus 8:16-19) What was the magician’s response to Pharaoh?
c) How can we relate what the “magicians” of Pharaoh’s time experienced and what the Ephesians experienced?
2) Why are occult practices (consulting mediums, horoscopes and the like) such an abomination to our God?
3) What does God say in Leviticus 19:26 and Deuteronomy 18:10-12 about those who indulge in these practices?
4) Think you would never resort to such a practice? Better read 1 Samuel 15:23! Who among us has never rebelled or been arrogant? Ouch!
5) Oh, the fear that came upon these Ephesians was a good thing! Read Proverbs 9:10! Not sure if an awesome, reverent fear was the only type of fear at work here, but their fear was definitely productive! What was their immediate response to this awesome display of God’s power?
6) Discerning people know truth and seeing truth, they repent! Repent means, “Stop! Turn around! Turn toward the Living God”! How did these Ephesians show true repentance?
7) This passage says the Ephesians calculated the financial cost of their repentance. It can be a costly thing to follow Christ, but, praise God, He is so worth the cost—our everything (Luke 14:25-33)!
Acts 19:23-28 (Friday)
“About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 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 man-made gods are no gods at all. 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." When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"” (NIV)
1) “Brought in no little business” means Demetrius, a common silversmith, was making a killing off the idol worship of the Ephesians! What “grievous” crime did Demetrius accuse Paul of?
2) What pretense did he use to persuade the towns people that followers of the Way (the way to God—Jesus Christ) were having a harmful effect on the worship of their “gods”?
3) Even this man knew the effect Paul was having on the people. How far reaching was Paul’s preaching?
4) What was Demetrius’ real motivation for wanting to be rid of Paul and others of the Way? You better believe it--money speaks! Evidently, far too many were casting down their idols and the linings of these businessmen’s pockets were wearing thin!
5) Besides the possible monetary factor, can you think of any other reasons for someone trying to run followers of the Way out of town?
6) Paul faced unbelievable opposition to the message of “Good News”! This may be the event that Paul later referred to as having fought “wild animals in Ephesus” (1 Corinthians 15:32!) Have you ever faced any type of opposition for your belief in Christ Jesus? What was your response?
7) Ever heard of “mob” mentality? Oh, you’ve seen this before! Look at Matthew 27:17-25.

WhatonEarthAreYouDoingforHeavensSake_MaximizingGodGivenOpportunties_Acts19_082706