21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. "And after that," he said, "I must go on to Rome!" 22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia. 23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't really gods at all. And he's done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!" 28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.
ACTS 19:21-29 (NLT)
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT COME TO FILL AN EMPTY SPACE IN OUR SCHEDULE. IT DOES NOT COME TO BECOME A RELIGIOUS ACCESSORY THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP LIVING THE SAME WAY.
JESUS DID NOT COME TO DECORATE YOUR CHAINS OR ADAPT HIMSELF TO YOUR WAY OF LIFE, JESUS CAME TO SET YOU FREE, HE CAME TO LIFT YOU UP AND PROPEL YOU TOWARD YOUR PURPOSE.
HIS LOVE MEETS US WHERE WE ARE, BUT HIS CALL COMPELS US TO FOLLOW HIM. HE OFFERS US FORGIVENESS AND TEACHES US TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY.
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.
COLOSSIANS 2:6 (NLT)
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST BEGINS WITH SURRENDER. JESUS GOES FROM BEING SOMEONE YOU ASK FOR HELP TO BECOMING SOMEONE YOU OBEY.
WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS, IDOLS RESPOND
WAKE UP: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PROFIT FROM WHAT YOU CONSUME, BUT THEY DON'T CELEBRATE YOUR FREEDOM.
WHEN JESUS BREAKS A CHAIN, HE ALSO CONFRONTS WHATEVER DEPENDED ON KEEPING YOU BOUND.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SPIRIT OF DEMETRIUS HAS ALSO FOUND ITS WAY INTO OUR PULPITS.
THE GOSPEL CONFRONTS THE IDOLS OF A CITY, BUT FIRST IT HAS TO CONFRONT THE IDOLS OF OUR HEARTS.
THE VOLUME OF THE CROWD DOES NOT DETERMINE THE TRUTH.
A LIE DOES NOT BECOME TRUE JUST BECAUSE IT HAS MANY FOLLOWERS.
THE TRUTH CONFRONTS OUR BELIEFS, OUR DECISIONS, AND OUR SIN. AND FOR THAT VERY REASON, WE MUST PROCLAIM IT THROUGH LIVES THAT REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.
THE CHURCH NEEDS TO KNOW GOD'S VOICE SO THAT IT IS NOT SWEPT AWAY BY EVERY SHOUT OF THE CROWD!
HEEDING COUNSEL DOES NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE OF THE SPIRIT..
FOLLOWING JESUS COMES AT A DAILY COST.
34 "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 'I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36Your enemies will be right in your own household!' 37 "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
MATTHEW 10:34-39 (NLT)
OBEDIENCE CANNOT DEPEND ON EVERYTHING GOING WELL FOR US!
WE CAN DEFEND DOCTRINE AND STILL NEED TO REPENT OF OUR LACK OF LOVE. WE CAN TALK ABOUT LOVE AND STILL NEED TO REPENT OF TOLERATING SIN..
WE CANNOT ASK GOD TO IGNITE OUR HEARTS WHILE WE CONTINUE TO FEED WHAT UNDERMINES OUR OBEDIENCE.
IF OUR MESSAGE NEVER CHALLENGES WHAT OUR SOCIETY WORSHIPS, WE MUST EXAMINE WHETHER WE ARE PROCLAIMING THE WHOLE GOSPEL.