A Spiritual Battle
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine […]
Spiritual Warfare and Union Bosses
In our study of Acts, we come today to the great riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). A man named Demetrius was angry with the church and incited a mob in the city center. There were two issues at hand. The first was economic – because of the great number of converts to “the Way,” the […]
Decisions, Decisions
Acts 19:21-22 (HCSB) 21 When these events were over, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well!”22 So after sending two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed in the […]
Show Me the Money!
17 This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned […]
Abra Cadabra Jesus!
Acts 19:13-16 (HCSB) 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!”14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.15 The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, […]
Baptism in the Spirit
Acts 19:1-7 (HCSB) While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then with what ⌊baptism⌋ were you baptized?” he asked […]
