Acts 19:20
“So The Word Of God Grew Mightily.” • Special Year End Session • 12.16.09 • The Power Of One
Intro.
- We have been examining the life of Paul over this first quarter of our study. While we have been looking at his life specifically, we recognize that we cannot do so in isolation.
- Paul’s life is connected to other men. Men like Barnabas and John Mark who traveled together with Paul on his first missionary journey.
- Paul’s life is also connected with movement. The movement or progression both of the church and the doctrines that help to govern her.
- The movement of God is expressed in three telling statements in Acts. Take a look with me at Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24 and Acts 19:20.
• Acts 6:7 : “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
• Acts 12:24 : “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”
• Acts 19:20 : “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
- What I want to do is examine the context of each of these verses. Before I get there, I want to expose what these verses speak to.
- What can we gather about what God is communicating through the pen of Dr. Luke?
- Notice the verbs. The word of God “spread,” “grew” and “grew mightily.” The Word of God is personified, like any dynamic creature and is described as having motion.
- In this case, the words are aggressive in nature. The word spread and grew. It’s influence, it’s power, was able to affect change and to progress.
- We can agree that the dynamic power of God’s word challenges us and will not stand pat. The nature of the Word of God and it’s ministry will not be relegated to a irrelevant position.
- However, we don’t read phrases like this in every chapter.
- It begs the question: What catalyzed this growth in each of these situations and further, what prevents this kind of growth from occuring?
- Let me suggest three catalyzing reasons for this growth. At the same time, I believe that they are keys to personal growth as we come into this New Year.
- The church is growing and with that came more challenging administrative needs. The Apostles were called upon to figure out a dillema regarding food distribution.
- There is nothing wrong with food distribution. In fact, if there was a more relevant ministry at that time, one would be hard pressed to identify it.
- However, while food distribution was a good thing, there was a God thing that they needed to concern themselves with. They had been called to the ministry of the Word. This was their priority.
- They knew what God had told them to do and they were determined to do it. Men who are successful servants often first need to learn what their primary ministry is before they can see their partnership with God flourish.
- Have you looked at all that you could do and measured it against all that you should do?
- Are your priorities straight and in order? That is the first catalyzing event that growth comes from. However, please note that the Apostles did not just sit by and say, “Hey, everyone get your own food.”
- They chose out seven men. Men, not women. And not just any man, but men of good reputation.
- The word “good reputation” comes from the same word that we get “martyr” from. In this instance, the idea is that the witness of this person’s life is solid and after observation, he can be vouched for as a man of God.
- Second they were to be men filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The second character attributes would be central to a man with good observable character.
- The Apostles are not just throwing anyone at a given task. They are not just looking for a warm body, even though this is a seemingly menial task.
- These are men who could be trusted to be servants of God, faithful to Him in everything, and to carry out this task.
- Notice finally though, that the disciples took a hands on approach with them. Literally, they laid hands on them! They backed them up, endorsed them for the ministry.
- The intention here seems to be simple, but profound. God’s word spread as the leadership and the men of the church partnered together in the work of the ministry.
- In just a few weeks, it’s going to be another year. Is there a ministry priority that the Lord is calling you to? Where will you be participating?
- Let me go you one better: Are you a man that can be called upon? I pray that you would strive to be a man that fits this description.
• Acts 12:20-23 : “Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” : The second catalyzing event comes on the heels of Herod’s powerful activities against the church in Acts chapter 12.
• Acts 12:1-3 : “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.”
- Herod was showing the church who was boss. He was dictating their movement and their effectiveness. He took out their leaders, both James and Peter.
- All of the momentum was on his side as you read those early verses. Of course, as the chapter progresses, God’s man Peter is miraculously released.
- When we come to the passage that we just read, we see a man filled with pride. The sycophantic people of Tyre and Sidon played to that pride, sitting before Herod.
- As he spoke they cheered him on, further feeding his large ego, telling him that his speaking was godlike and Herod, did not attempt to resist them or humble himself in the slightest.
- Luke here describes what seems to be a very grotesque scene. When I first read this in High School, I believed that huge worms came out of the ground and ate him in front of everyone!
- Luke was a doctor and what he comments on here is a medical diagnosis. Literally, Herod’s intestines were infested with worms.
- Josephus, in his historical accounting of this passage, recounts that as Herod spoke, a sudden and deep pain came upon him. Five days later, Herod succumbed to his illness.
- A natural death instigated by supernatural design. God’s judgment employing natural means.
- After this episode, the comment of God’s Word growing and multiplying takes on a more picturesque meaning!
- The enemy of God was vanquished. He was set aside and cast down and the church was energized.
- Today, we do not have physical entities like Kings or even governments, though that may not be too far down the line. The church may once again experience persecution.
- However, the church has it's enemies. It's legislation. It's liberal media. It's libel and slander.
- It's a Herod problem. It's bigger than us. It's powerful. The church generally responds in one of two ways: Either it is parlyzed in fear or is preoccupied with fighting fire with fire.
- Which should it be? Notice that when Herod reached out against the Church, that the church responded.
• Acts 12:5 : "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."
- There were no protests, no picket signs, no petitions. There was constant, fervent prayer.
- There was no religious right. Herod was not swayed by partisanship per se. They had no other recourse other than prayer.
- I don't want to get political here and I don't want to deride the process that we have come to embrace in the political arena. But I do want to comment that prayer is not the least that one can do!
- Prayer is not some irreducible minimum; It's the immovable maximum!
- Prayer, petitioning God, not only changes things like situations and hearts, but it strengthens your inner man and makes you a powerful friend or powerful foe!
- Turn with me to James 5. The Apostle is finishing up his epistle with these final words.
• James 5:16-18 : "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."
- The church is energized when they fight with spiritual weapons and when legislation and political powers fall, it's particularly true that the church has become united in spiritual battle.
- That display of power is what you crave. It's the reality that you long for.
• Acts 19:17 : “This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” : We are skipping ahead here and covering a period of time that will encompass Paul's second missionary journey.
- Here they are in Ephesus and here again, the Lord is doing a mighty work among the people and through the Apostles. Two things happened here of significance.
- First, fear fell on them all. Generally, fear is considered a negative emotion. In most cases, the type of fear that is always appropriate is akin to reverential respect.
- These people however were just plain scared at the manifestation of God's reality. They were awakened to a power that was beyond them both in scope and in experience.
- They were in awe and were naturally afraid of what it is that they did not know. Now, again, we would consider this emotion negative, but notice what it produced.
- "The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." What does that mean? The word "magnified" speaks of amplification. Think of the English word "magnify." That makes it easy.
- When magnification is applied to any object, it appears greater than it's own size. But magnification is not used to enlarge an object. Magnification is employed to increase our understanding of a given object.
- Something can be very small and magnification allows the viewer the opportunity to see intricacies that were otherwise impossible to see.
- For the Ephesians, the name of Jesus Christ was magnified by their praise of Him.
- This brings us to what they did with this new knowledge of Jesus. Their knowledge of His power, His love and accessibility led them to desire to draw close to Him.
- I believe that their response mirrors what it was that they learned about Him. I believe that they knew and understood first His Holiness. That is always the general first response.
- That revelation of God's character led them to examine their own.
• Acts 19:18 : "And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver."
- They immediately drew near to this Holy God by coming clean. They were penitent. They were convicted. The Holy Spirit was working in a deep, authentic, life changing way.
- With their mouths came confession, but that confession led them to action.
- Their old life, for many defined by an occultic addiction to magical artistry. The books that instructed them were brought before the altar and laid there as a burnt offering before God.
- And they were burnt before the sight of all! They were no longer tolerated or allowed as a token of some glorious past life. They were destroyed.
- These books were not cheap. This was a costly sacrifice equaling a massive amount of money. According to David Guzik, the amount may have been in excess of a million dollars.
- Today, there are some magazines that need to be thrown away, some sites that need to be unbookmarked, some movies that need to find their way to the garbage disposal!
˚ "You will have enough temptation in your own mind without going after these things. Is there any habit, any practice, that you have got that defiles your soul? If Christ loves you, and you come and trust in him, you will make short work of it. Have done with it, and have done with it forever."
- Am I advocating legalism? Far from it. I am advocating radicalism! A radical commitment to everything righteous and a radical aversion to everything wicked! The result was life altering for the Ephesians and I guarantee it will be the same for you!
- Let me put it this way. What if you continue that porn habit? What if you continue to socially drink or respect it in your life? What if you continue to watch movies that stumble your walk with the Lord? Where is that going to lead you?
- After another year of harboring habits and tolerating trouble, where do you think it will lead? Will you be watching the Word spread, grow or conquer in your life? The answer is simple: NO WAY!
Conclusion
- As we wrap up this calendar year, on behalf of the Lord, I beg you to consider your life.
- Where might you be useful in partnering with the staff and leadership of this church?
- What Herods do you need to commit to prayer, knowing that leaning on the Lord not only changes situations, but it changes you!
- And what vice do you need to surrender to the Lord? What secret sin needs to be exposed and turned away? I pray that you would have the boldness and the wisdom to be as diligent and quick as necessary.
“So The Word Of God Grew Mightily.” • Special Year End Session • 12.16.09 • The Power Of One
Intro.
- We have been examining the life of Paul over this first quarter of our study. While we have been looking at his life specifically, we recognize that we cannot do so in isolation.
- Paul’s life is connected to other men. Men like Barnabas and John Mark who traveled together with Paul on his first missionary journey.
- Paul’s life is also connected with movement. The movement or progression both of the church and the doctrines that help to govern her.
- The movement of God is expressed in three telling statements in Acts. Take a look with me at Acts 6:7, Acts 12:24 and Acts 19:20.
• Acts 6:7 : “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
• Acts 12:24 : “But the word of God grew and multiplied.”
• Acts 19:20 : “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
- What I want to do is examine the context of each of these verses. Before I get there, I want to expose what these verses speak to.
- What can we gather about what God is communicating through the pen of Dr. Luke?
- Notice the verbs. The word of God “spread,” “grew” and “grew mightily.” The Word of God is personified, like any dynamic creature and is described as having motion.
- In this case, the words are aggressive in nature. The word spread and grew. It’s influence, it’s power, was able to affect change and to progress.
- We can agree that the dynamic power of God’s word challenges us and will not stand pat. The nature of the Word of God and it’s ministry will not be relegated to a irrelevant position.
- However, we don’t read phrases like this in every chapter.
- It begs the question: What catalyzed this growth in each of these situations and further, what prevents this kind of growth from occuring?
- Let me suggest three catalyzing reasons for this growth. At the same time, I believe that they are keys to personal growth as we come into this New Year.
I. Priority Decided (6:3-6)
II. Power Displayed (12:20-23)
III. Purity Determined (19:17-19)
TextII. Power Displayed (12:20-23)
III. Purity Determined (19:17-19)
I. Priority Decided (6:3-6)
• Acts 6:3-6 : “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.” : The end of this tale comes as a major decision is made.- The church is growing and with that came more challenging administrative needs. The Apostles were called upon to figure out a dillema regarding food distribution.
- There is nothing wrong with food distribution. In fact, if there was a more relevant ministry at that time, one would be hard pressed to identify it.
- However, while food distribution was a good thing, there was a God thing that they needed to concern themselves with. They had been called to the ministry of the Word. This was their priority.
- They knew what God had told them to do and they were determined to do it. Men who are successful servants often first need to learn what their primary ministry is before they can see their partnership with God flourish.
- Have you looked at all that you could do and measured it against all that you should do?
- Are your priorities straight and in order? That is the first catalyzing event that growth comes from. However, please note that the Apostles did not just sit by and say, “Hey, everyone get your own food.”
- They chose out seven men. Men, not women. And not just any man, but men of good reputation.
- The word “good reputation” comes from the same word that we get “martyr” from. In this instance, the idea is that the witness of this person’s life is solid and after observation, he can be vouched for as a man of God.
- Second they were to be men filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The second character attributes would be central to a man with good observable character.
- The Apostles are not just throwing anyone at a given task. They are not just looking for a warm body, even though this is a seemingly menial task.
- These are men who could be trusted to be servants of God, faithful to Him in everything, and to carry out this task.
- Notice finally though, that the disciples took a hands on approach with them. Literally, they laid hands on them! They backed them up, endorsed them for the ministry.
- The intention here seems to be simple, but profound. God’s word spread as the leadership and the men of the church partnered together in the work of the ministry.
- In just a few weeks, it’s going to be another year. Is there a ministry priority that the Lord is calling you to? Where will you be participating?
- Let me go you one better: Are you a man that can be called upon? I pray that you would strive to be a man that fits this description.
II. Power Displayed (12:20-23)
• Acts 12:20-23 : “Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” : The second catalyzing event comes on the heels of Herod’s powerful activities against the church in Acts chapter 12.
• Acts 12:1-3 : “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.”
- Herod was showing the church who was boss. He was dictating their movement and their effectiveness. He took out their leaders, both James and Peter.
- All of the momentum was on his side as you read those early verses. Of course, as the chapter progresses, God’s man Peter is miraculously released.
- When we come to the passage that we just read, we see a man filled with pride. The sycophantic people of Tyre and Sidon played to that pride, sitting before Herod.
- As he spoke they cheered him on, further feeding his large ego, telling him that his speaking was godlike and Herod, did not attempt to resist them or humble himself in the slightest.
- Luke here describes what seems to be a very grotesque scene. When I first read this in High School, I believed that huge worms came out of the ground and ate him in front of everyone!
- Luke was a doctor and what he comments on here is a medical diagnosis. Literally, Herod’s intestines were infested with worms.
- Josephus, in his historical accounting of this passage, recounts that as Herod spoke, a sudden and deep pain came upon him. Five days later, Herod succumbed to his illness.
- A natural death instigated by supernatural design. God’s judgment employing natural means.
- After this episode, the comment of God’s Word growing and multiplying takes on a more picturesque meaning!
- The enemy of God was vanquished. He was set aside and cast down and the church was energized.
- Today, we do not have physical entities like Kings or even governments, though that may not be too far down the line. The church may once again experience persecution.
- However, the church has it's enemies. It's legislation. It's liberal media. It's libel and slander.
- It's a Herod problem. It's bigger than us. It's powerful. The church generally responds in one of two ways: Either it is parlyzed in fear or is preoccupied with fighting fire with fire.
- Which should it be? Notice that when Herod reached out against the Church, that the church responded.
• Acts 12:5 : "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church."
- There were no protests, no picket signs, no petitions. There was constant, fervent prayer.
- There was no religious right. Herod was not swayed by partisanship per se. They had no other recourse other than prayer.
- I don't want to get political here and I don't want to deride the process that we have come to embrace in the political arena. But I do want to comment that prayer is not the least that one can do!
- Prayer is not some irreducible minimum; It's the immovable maximum!
- Prayer, petitioning God, not only changes things like situations and hearts, but it strengthens your inner man and makes you a powerful friend or powerful foe!
- Turn with me to James 5. The Apostle is finishing up his epistle with these final words.
• James 5:16-18 : "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."
- The church is energized when they fight with spiritual weapons and when legislation and political powers fall, it's particularly true that the church has become united in spiritual battle.
- That display of power is what you crave. It's the reality that you long for.
III. Purity Determined (19:17-19)
• Acts 19:17 : “This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” : We are skipping ahead here and covering a period of time that will encompass Paul's second missionary journey.
- Here they are in Ephesus and here again, the Lord is doing a mighty work among the people and through the Apostles. Two things happened here of significance.
- First, fear fell on them all. Generally, fear is considered a negative emotion. In most cases, the type of fear that is always appropriate is akin to reverential respect.
- These people however were just plain scared at the manifestation of God's reality. They were awakened to a power that was beyond them both in scope and in experience.
- They were in awe and were naturally afraid of what it is that they did not know. Now, again, we would consider this emotion negative, but notice what it produced.
- "The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." What does that mean? The word "magnified" speaks of amplification. Think of the English word "magnify." That makes it easy.
- When magnification is applied to any object, it appears greater than it's own size. But magnification is not used to enlarge an object. Magnification is employed to increase our understanding of a given object.
- Something can be very small and magnification allows the viewer the opportunity to see intricacies that were otherwise impossible to see.
- For the Ephesians, the name of Jesus Christ was magnified by their praise of Him.
- This brings us to what they did with this new knowledge of Jesus. Their knowledge of His power, His love and accessibility led them to desire to draw close to Him.
- I believe that their response mirrors what it was that they learned about Him. I believe that they knew and understood first His Holiness. That is always the general first response.
- That revelation of God's character led them to examine their own.
• Acts 19:18 : "And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver."
- They immediately drew near to this Holy God by coming clean. They were penitent. They were convicted. The Holy Spirit was working in a deep, authentic, life changing way.
- With their mouths came confession, but that confession led them to action.
- Their old life, for many defined by an occultic addiction to magical artistry. The books that instructed them were brought before the altar and laid there as a burnt offering before God.
- And they were burnt before the sight of all! They were no longer tolerated or allowed as a token of some glorious past life. They were destroyed.
- These books were not cheap. This was a costly sacrifice equaling a massive amount of money. According to David Guzik, the amount may have been in excess of a million dollars.
- Today, there are some magazines that need to be thrown away, some sites that need to be unbookmarked, some movies that need to find their way to the garbage disposal!
˚ "You will have enough temptation in your own mind without going after these things. Is there any habit, any practice, that you have got that defiles your soul? If Christ loves you, and you come and trust in him, you will make short work of it. Have done with it, and have done with it forever."
Charles Spurgeon
- Any vestige of any area that holds onto your allegiance must be destroyed and must be destroyed now! Is it a secret stash? A bottle here or there? - Am I advocating legalism? Far from it. I am advocating radicalism! A radical commitment to everything righteous and a radical aversion to everything wicked! The result was life altering for the Ephesians and I guarantee it will be the same for you!
- Let me put it this way. What if you continue that porn habit? What if you continue to socially drink or respect it in your life? What if you continue to watch movies that stumble your walk with the Lord? Where is that going to lead you?
- After another year of harboring habits and tolerating trouble, where do you think it will lead? Will you be watching the Word spread, grow or conquer in your life? The answer is simple: NO WAY!
Conclusion
- As we wrap up this calendar year, on behalf of the Lord, I beg you to consider your life.
- Where might you be useful in partnering with the staff and leadership of this church?
- What Herods do you need to commit to prayer, knowing that leaning on the Lord not only changes situations, but it changes you!
- And what vice do you need to surrender to the Lord? What secret sin needs to be exposed and turned away? I pray that you would have the boldness and the wisdom to be as diligent and quick as necessary.
1 comment:
1 The first key to growth was the establishment of priorities. The Apostles stuck to theirs and the men of the church recognized theirs. What are your current priorities? In the new year, what activities need to be shifted? What actions need to be adopted?
2 The second key to growth was the extreme power of prayer. What current things do you find yourself praying for? What focus will you take in 2009? What things have you been prayerless about? What steps need to be taken to rectify that issue?
3 The third key to growth was the elimination of pagan loyalties. The men of Ephesus rid themselves of various things that would compete with their loyalty to God's power in their life. Without being explicit, speak about the resolve that needs to take place in your life today? Speak about the need for discipline, accountability and how you plan to remove anything from your life that might keep you from watching God's power increase in your life.
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