Last week I told you that I believe there are people in Austin yet to be saved. There is work to be done in Mower County, and Crane Chapel has the mission, the people, and the resources to do it! Need some encouragement? In Acts 19, Luke gives a fascinating account of how the Gospel of Christ reached and affected an entire city and its surrounding area through a relatively small group of Christians. That city was Ephesus.
Ephesus was a luxurious city, but it was given up to the occult and black magic. The people cooked up mysterious formulas to give them wealth and happiness and success. Superstition, sorcery, and the worship of idols were very common. The Ephesians worshipped the Asiatic goddess Diana (or Artemis), the goddess of fertility. Their supreme glory was the temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. And a principal business of Ephesus was the making of small idols and shrines. Ephesus, like Corinth, was saturated with idolatry, witchcraft, riots and immorality. Enter: The Apostle Paul. (Doesn’t it seem as though Paul is somehow drawn to these kinds of cities?)
Paul stayed and preached in Ephesus for over two years. And Christianity became one of the most powerful influences in the city. Ephesus also became one of the most famous churches in the world. The Gospel so affected the city that its economy was actually disrupted! Remember: the production of idols and shrines was a major business here.
What was Paul’s secret? It is no secret. It is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has the power to overcome Satan and all those things he uses to destroy us (witchcraft, etc.). Later in his letter to the church in Ephesus Paul would write, “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12) And in his letter to the Corinthians he said, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas and we teach them to obey Christ.” (II Cor. 10:4-5)
Ephesus was a luxurious city, but it was given up to the occult and black magic. The people cooked up mysterious formulas to give them wealth and happiness and success. Superstition, sorcery, and the worship of idols were very common. The Ephesians worshipped the Asiatic goddess Diana (or Artemis), the goddess of fertility. Their supreme glory was the temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. And a principal business of Ephesus was the making of small idols and shrines. Ephesus, like Corinth, was saturated with idolatry, witchcraft, riots and immorality. Enter: The Apostle Paul. (Doesn’t it seem as though Paul is somehow drawn to these kinds of cities?)
Paul stayed and preached in Ephesus for over two years. And Christianity became one of the most powerful influences in the city. Ephesus also became one of the most famous churches in the world. The Gospel so affected the city that its economy was actually disrupted! Remember: the production of idols and shrines was a major business here.
What was Paul’s secret? It is no secret. It is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has the power to overcome Satan and all those things he uses to destroy us (witchcraft, etc.). Later in his letter to the church in Ephesus Paul would write, “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12) And in his letter to the Corinthians he said, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas and we teach them to obey Christ.” (II Cor. 10:4-5)
These passages remind us that we have an enemy. He isn’t our boss, or our spouse, but a spiritual enemy. The Bible clearly teaches that Satan is a manipulator. Scripture describes him as the “god of this world.” Until Paul’s arrival, Satan held Ephesus in bondage. The people lived in confusion and they indulged themselves in lust and desire and magic. We have our own form of magic today: The magic of money, or power, or possessions or human capability dominate the culture. But we are called to battle the stronghold. How? Several weeks ago, I challenged you to ask God to bring to your mind someone to share the Gospel with. Some of you have shared that you’ve taken up this challenge. As a reminder: This is why the Church exits – to rescue people out of Satan’s bondage. And believe me, Ephesus isn’t that much different from our culture today. The Power is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Share it!
– Pastor Mark
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