ACTS of the Apostles, Part 2 - Learning How to be Daring & Dynamic

Read Acts 19:1-20

Focus Verses: Acts 19:19-20

And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

What an interesting passage of scripture, girls. I LOVE reading from the Bible, and I especially love the kind of reading I did with our passage today.

I read the verses once. I didn't read a single word I didn't know or understand. However, at the end of the passage, I had to go back and read again. I did this over and over until the words came together in a story, because THIS is a story! If you read through the passage in a hurry like I did, please go back and read it again. Look for the story!

Throughout the story, I saw parts and pieces of this scripture that have split congregations and formed denominations. I don't want to go into all of them, because I know that we have a variety of denominations represented in our group. I love that. I do want to say, though, that we must see the diversity of the Spirit's activity in these 20 verses. The Spirit's freedom ought to encourage us to hold loosely our ideas about how, where, and when God will move on behalf of His people.

I noticed something very unique about Paul in this story. In verse 9, Luke recorded that some had hardened their hearts and refused to believe what Paul was teaching. Paul, who is well known for boldness and authority, chose not to argue with the non-believers. He simply took those who did believe and continued to teach them.

I wonder if Paul was worried about leaving the divisive and non-believing crowd. I wonder if he was concerned that they'd never learn if he wasn't the one to teach them. Do you think he was accused of being soft for walking away? He was practicing a discipling practice Jesus used with the disciples,

"If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town..." Matt. 10:14.

Paul didn't give up, give in, or turn away. He simply devoted his attention to those who exhibited the Holy Spirit already at work within them. Paul seemed to have understood the reality that God, through the power of His Spirit, is the One that does the heavy lifting. Where hard hearts work against the spirit, Paul knew his work would be wasted.

I want to point out one last thing. This story that we read in Acts today happened in Ephesus. Luke says that Paul remained there 2+ years teaching the Ephesians and doing life with them. Ephesus was a very important city during the 1st century. It was wealthy, and it was located on a main trade route. Ephesus housed the Temple of Diana which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. An overzealous evangelist would have been tempted to charge the community and force change and obedience to the Way. After all, Ephesus was driving culture. Fear could have easily caused Paul to try to rush the work.

He didn't do it! Paul took his time. He lived with the Ephesians. He worked with them, and he shared his story with them over a period of time. Not only did God do miracles that exposed demonic activity and brought revival, we have the book of Ephesians which is Paul's letter back to this group of believers once he'd moved on to evangelize in new territory.

When we trust our Heavenly Father with the work of salvation, we are free to love people, affect culture, and experience revival. People will always resist us making them "projects." Today, I'm convicted (again) by Paul's attention to the people right in front of him.

I think Paul never forgot how intentional God was with redirecting his path. I believe he knew there wasn't a single person that could have changed the way he was living his life before the Holy Spirit struck him blind on the road to Damascus. Because of that truth, Paul seemed to live focused on finding the Spirit at work and joining him there. I'm challenged today to do the same.

God, Acts is so full of stories. My story is different from the stories of these first believers. But, I'm desperate to find myself in these pages. I want to walk away from our study of Acts with some of the passion of these first believers, walkers in The Way. Correct me where I misinterpret. Open my eyes when I miss the depth. Transform our hearts in a way that causes the word of the Lord to continue to increase and prevail mightily. Amen.