Category Archives: Jesus

Acts 19- Do They Know You?

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Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:13-15

Again we see people trying to replicate the power of the Holy Spirit and use it for their own fame and glory. We seen this earlier with Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8) and we still see this today, many false prophets trying to replicate the power of God, however this is blasphemy and comes at a serious price. But notice when these men tried to exercise demons in the name of Jesus, the demons said to them “Who are you”?

The question today is “Do the demons know your name”? Sounds like a strange question, but as the old saying goes “Know your enemy” When your a soldier for Christ, the demons will know your name because you are a threat to their kingdom. Don’t be surprised the more you are faithful and loyal to God, the more the demons will come after you and make your life miserable

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and 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. Acts 19:16-18

The demons attacked the false prophets and wounded them. Let this be a warning to everyone, messing with demons is serious! If you are not covered by the blood of Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, you too can become overpowered by demonic forces. This is why playing with tarot cards and weegie boards is dangerous and should not be taken lightly.

If your going to battle with demons, you need to be equipped by God, otherwise you will be devoured like a lamb to the slaughter!

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:19-20

When the people of Ephesus witnessed all this, they burned all their evil books and items. The word of God prevailed and the name of Jesus was magnified according to the scriptures!

Be equipped to battle the spiritual warfare we are in today, get Born Again and covered by the blood of Jesus Amen!

Acts 19- Receive The Holy Spirit

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And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts 19:1-4

There are two baptisms, the baptism of water for repentance and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Christians Paul met in Ephesus, never heard of the Holy Spirit, and he was about to introduce them to this baptism. It makes me wonder, how many Christians today have probably never been baptised by the Holy Spirit? 

The Holy Spirit is an important part of the Triune God that we often fail to forget. We talk often about the Father and Son, but many fail to mention or give glory to the Holy Spirit. But the Bible tells us the Spirit of God lives inside of us as Born Again believers (Romans 8:11) Its only by the Holy Spirit that we can declare Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3) Its only by the Holy Spirit that we can understand “Spiritual Things” (1 Corinthians 2:14) We need to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives to walk with Christ!

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. Acts 19:5-7

When the Christians of Ephesus heard this, they wanted the Holy Spirit. So Paul laid his hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. Its interesting , how many Churches do this today? Has anyone ever laid hands on you to receive the Holy Spirit? This is one of the many reasons we need the Church, together in worship they received the Holy Ghost.

People wonder today why we don’t see more signs and miracles performed by the Holy Spirit. Are we doing the same things the first century Church did? No, so why do we expect to see the same results? If we want to see the power of God in the Church , we need the Holy Spirit!

Do you thirst for the Living Water of the Spirit? Do you cry out for the Holy Ghost to be poured down upon You? Receive The Holy Spirit in Jesus name Amen!

Acts 18- Remain Humble

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And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Acts 18:23-26

Here we see Paul beginning his 3rd mission trip. We see many of the Churches mentioned that Paul has written letters to Ephesus, Corinth, and Galatia. At Ephesus, Paul met a man named Apollos of Alexandria. He was described as an eloquent and well trained disciple of the scriptures. He preached the gospel of Christ accurately but he still had doctrines he was not aware of. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and taught him further doctrine about Christ, as Apollos was only aware of the baptism of water, I imagine they taught him about the baptism of the Holy Spirit

This is a good lesson for all of us, even though Apollos was well trained in the scriptures and well respected, he still had more to learn. We all have alot more to learn about God, no matter how long you have been studying the scriptures or whatever your title or status is within the Church. We need to humble ourselves and be teachable. God resists the proud and gives grace to the Humble!

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. Acts 18:27-28

So what was the result of Apollos humbling himself and learning more about Christ through Aquila and Priscilla? He was highly respected among the Church and went on to preach Christ to the Jews and convinced many that Jesus is the Messiah. What would have happened if Apollos ego got in the way of him learning from Aquila and Priscilla? Apollos ministry may have gone in a whole different direction and many may have not heard the gospel. 

We need to learn to remain humble in all circumstances! Don’t allow your flesh to build your ego because God has blessed you! Just as God gave Pau a “thorn in his side” to keep him humble, we need to remain humble also. God’s grace is sufficient enough, we must decrease and Jesus must increase Amen!

Acts 18- Church of Corinth

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After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. Acts 18:1-4

In this Chapter we see when Paul established the Church of Corinth, this is where we get the Epistles of 1rst and 2nd Corinthians. Again we see another large Jewish population because they were kicked out of Rome. We also see a large Greek pagan population, so Paul has his work cut out for him. 

Another thing we notice is Paul is a tentmaker for an occupation, this is how he bonded with Priscilla and Aquila. Paul worked this occupation so he didnt burden the Churches with financially supporting him, although some of the Churches did financially support him when possible. Brings up the topic, should Pastors be bi-vocational? Regardless Paul was very busy working his ministry and occupation as a tentmaker, not much time for feeling sorry for himself

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Acts 18:5-7

Paul preached to the Orthodox Jews every Sabbath, showing to them in the scriptures that Jesus Is the Messiah. However the Jews rejected Christ and Paul had enough he said “Your blood be upon your own heads” The Jews received the gospel of Christ yet rejected it, as Jesus said “Shake the dust off your feet and move on”. Paul declared he is now going to the Gentiles to preach the gospel

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Acts 18:8-11

Paul labored in Corinth for a year and a half, and Jesus gave Paul some words of encouragement “Be not afraid, keep on preaching, don’t be silent” These words should be great encouragement for us also! After toiling Paul had success and many people came to Christ

Remember the words of our Lord, Don’t be afraid, Keep preaching the gospel in Jesus name Amen!

Acts 17- The Birth of Apologetics

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Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. Acts 17:16-20

Apologetics has become a popular tool for ministry today, but Apologetics is not a new strategy or concept, in fact Paul used the same strategy in his ministry. While evangelizing to Greek philosophers and Jewish religious leaders, Paul used logic and reasoning based on their worldview. This is exactly what Apologetics is, using logic and reasoning to show God exists and that Christianity is true

Notice these philosophers heard of Jesus and the resurrection, but they didn’t understand how this fit into their worldview. Often Apologetics, when done correctly, creates a pathway to the gospel of Christ. And we are going to see how Paul accomplished this by explaining there is one true God and the resurrection of Christ is the evidence that Christianity is true

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Acts 17:21-24

The Greeks worshipped many gods, including an unknown god , in case they accidently missed one. Paul pointed out their error as there is only one true living God. And the true living God does not live in temples or statues made by human hands. Next you will see how Paul builds a bridge to the gospel through this strategy

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

Paul explained God has commanded everyone to come to repentance and affirmed He is the true living God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Remember the resurrection is the central theme of Christianity and our faith, if Christ wasn’t raised from the dead, then our faith is worthless

Good Apologetics should always lead to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Build a case for God then lead them to Jesus Amen!