The Eternal Adventure Chapter 17

 

Ephesus: The Scriptures & The Power of God

 

Ephesus Theater

After the ground-breaking ministry in Europe, where five congregations were established, Paul sails from the Aegean side of the Corinth isthmus, Cenchrea, back to Jerusalem and Antioch, with a stop in Ephesus, where apparently, he leaves Pricilla and Aquila. This second mission trip finishes with a set up for the next Road Trip which will focus on Ephesus, the center of cultic worship to the goddess Diana.

 

 

A model of the Artemis/Diana Temple in the Ephesus Museum

 

 

The site of the ancient temple

 

 

 

 

Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews.  They asked him to stay longer, but he declined.  As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.  The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.  After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Acts 18:18-23

 

The Ephesian Cardo

Bringing the Gospel to Ephesus would be like travelling to Mecca and proclaiming, “Jesus is Lord.” Ephesus was a very spiritually charged environment. The entire economy and culture of Ephesus was centered around one of the largest temples of the ancient world that worshipped the huntress goddess Diana / Artemis, who was also the goddess of childbirth, wildlife, the night and the Moon. It took a lot of courage for anyone to challenge the demonic powers that controlled that region.

Upper Cardo Ephesus

Enter Apollo, a follower of Jesus from Alexandria.

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed.  He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.                                                                  Acts 18:24-28

Apollo was a gifted teacher, but he didn’t have the complete message. He only knew about John’s baptism for repentance, and was unaware of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 & 2). He was missing an important part of his arsenal as a minister of the Gospel. Two mature disciples, Pricilla and Aquila, quietly took him aside and told him what Jesus said about the necessity of experiencing the Holy Spirit in a very personal way.

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Power. The Greek word is ‘dynamis’ which is same word we get dynamite from; Supernatural abilities that enable you to accomplish much more that you could yourself.

 Apollo needed the infilling of the Holy Spirit if he was going to accomplish all that God has planned for him. We all do. Apparently, Apollo was not the only believer who had not heard the complete Gospel.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.

“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.

And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.   Acts 19:1-7

It is important not to assume anything with you meet another ‘believer’. There are many who claim to know Jesus, but are unaware of the Truth of the Bible, and often live their spiritual lives according to the dictates of their own culture. Our opportunity when we meet these who don’t have the complete picture is to befriend them and listen to their story. They are on a path to God, even if it is a winding road. We must help them get on the right path and understand Biblical truth.  This is part of ‘Making Disciples’.

 

 

 

The Ephesian Theater, and below me in the red shirt where I took the photo from.

 

 

When I meet a ‘Christian’ who believes that taking the life of an unborn child is okay, I realize that they have been poorly taught. If I encounter a brother who holds racial prejudice, I realize his cultural upbringing is probably dictating his beliefs. When I encounter one who is engaged in sexual promiscuity, I know that they do not understand God’s plan for familial relationships, or why sex should be enjoyed only within the confines of marriage.

Principle: If a disciple of Jesus understands God’s will in specific areas of life, they often need encouragement to live a life that is pleasing to God (Colossians 1:9-12).

 I often need this encouragement as well. We all do.

Thus, I am given the opportunity to gently nudge these believers toward the Truth of the Bible, which expresses God’s moral values and His plans for humanity. I have learned the value of asking many questions and pointing to Scripture to give God’s answers to the issues of life, rather than my own. It is often a slow and tedious process, as many have deep roots in their own culture and beliefs. Friendship, practical displays of love, and the application of large quantities of grace are often the prescription to straighten out those winding roads.

Principle: Discipleship is often patient persistence to help others straighten out their winding roads, by speaking the truth in love at the appropriate moment.

 

 

The famous Ephesian Library with Michael and Pierre relaxing on the steps.

 

 

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.  But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.                                                        Acts 19:8-12

 For two years, Paul held “daily discussions” in the Hall of Tyrannus. What do you think these discussions were about? All Luke tells us is that they “heard the word of the Lord”.

Perhaps Paul spoke about the Biblical account of the Creation of the Earth. Surely, he taught about how sin entered mankind through the deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and the murder of Abel. Undoubtedly, he taught about God’s plan for the family to be the foundation of human society and the roles the husband/father, the wife/mother, and the children were to play.

He must have covered how humans are to interact with one another and how God’s design for us to be “others-centered” benefits our neighbors, our community, and ultimately ourselves. He must have shared how God gave mankind his commandments at Mt Sinai, how the character of God was revealed, and what God intends our relationship with Him to be.

He probably told the stories of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Judah and Tamar, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Boaz and Ruth (ancestors of King David), Saul, David, and all the kings of Israel and Judah, as well as all God’s prophets who spoke His words to their communities so that the Ephesians would understand how men and women have related to God and each other.

I’m sure that he focused much of his teaching on the prophecies of the Messiah, and the life and words of Jesus, explaining his atoning sacrifice on the cross and his coming return to set up his Kingdom rule on Earth.

Along with that, he must have spent many of those days and weeks focusing on the role we play in the Kingdom of God, our mission, and how to best live successful lives here on Earth not according to our culture’s standards but God’s desires, living in a spiritual world filled with angels and demons with whom we interact on a regular basis.

These are some of the basics of Discipleship.

 

 

 

Sophia- "Wisdom" at the Ephesian Library

 

During this time of teaching the word of the Lord, God was performing “unusual” miracles through Paul. This causes us to wonder what a “normal” miracle is.

Principle: Normal miracles are considered to be a normal part of the ministry and lives of the disciples.

Many of us two millennium later can attest to this concept as a reality of the Christian life.

Paul’s teaching the Word and performing miracles are the complete package of evangelism and discipleship. His descriptions of supernatural empowerments in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are clearly for all disciples.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of  miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the  distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

 

The Theater and road to the harbor

 

 In Romans 12, Paul points out other empowerments of the Holy Spirit

 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if  service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;  or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with  liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.                                           Romans 12:4-8

These must be the “normal miracles” that we should be experiencing on a regular basis in our lives as spirit filled followers of Jesus. As we walk in these supernatural empowerments, unusual miracles often follow.

Principle: These normal ‘miracles’ are an essential part of our evangelism and discipleship.

What is the other part?

 

Laura and the goddess Nike - "Victory"

 

When Jesus was asked a ridiculous question about marriage in Heaven by some Sadducees, who didn’t believe in an afterlife, his response identifies the two crucial elements to our ministry and our own spiritual lives.

So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.                                                         Matthew 22:28-29

Jesus identified the two essential elements of every effective ministry: The Scriptures and The Power of God.

Paul dug into to the ministry in Ephesus, teaching the Scripture in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, while exercising the Power of God through his prayers for healing and expelling evil spirits.

Principle: These two elements, the Scriptures and the Power of God, are necessary for healthy, balanced ministry.

There is a tendency for us to sometimes focus on one or the other. When that happens, we are liable to become either legalistic and argumentative, or super spiritual and judgmental, and we lose our effectiveness in making disciples who can reach their own communities.

 

 

 

Entrance to a home in Ephesus with Medusa over the door

 

 

During Paul’s time in Ephesus there were some travelling Jews who were also attempting to harness the power of God and cast out evil spirits.

A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.

But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.  Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.  So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.                                                             Acts 19:13-20

The seven sons of Sceva were lacking something when it came to encounters with demonic spirits: Jesus’ authority. As a result, they were overpowered and beaten up by a demon possessed man.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.  Matthew 10:1                                       

Principle: Jesus has given His disciples authority over the rebellious angels.

 Authority is defined as “the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take actions, or make final decisions” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4^th ed.).

 

 

When Jesus’ disciples exercised this authority in their ministry, Luke reports that:

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”    Luke 10:17-20

 As a pilot in the United States Navy, I was given authority by President Gerald Ford and later President Jimmy Carter (via the chain of command) to enforce the laws and policies of the United States in my role as a carrier attack pilot flying an A-6 Intruder, defending the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This meant I could use any of a variety of missiles, rockets, bombs, and even nuclear weapons to carry out United States laws and policies when ordered by my squadron commander.

Using the authority was a different matter. Even though I may have the orders from above to use it, I always had the ultimate choice whether I would use that authority. It took a conscious decision and action on our part to press the bomb release button on the stick or pull the trigger. We often joked that in the event of a nuclear war, we pilots would suddenly have stuffed sinuses and runny noses and be medically unfit for flight rather than go flying to drop ‘the big one.’

Principle: In spiritual matters, it is the same. When you realize you are in a spiritual battle, showing your ‘badge of authority’ is the first step in seeing the enemy back off.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, we don’t do that and deal with the situation through our own strength and resources. This is a formula for a protracted struggle and ultimate defeat.

The disciples Jesus sent out saw results, and Jesus cautioned them to remember the reality¾it all comes from Him. Without His authority, we are nothing. With it, and Him, we are formidable in spiritual battles.

 

From the top seats in the Ephesian Theater 2021

Just as this authority is relationship-oriented, so is the “armor of God,” which Paul describes in his later letter to his friends in Ephesus:

 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:10-18

When you read Paul’s description in Ephesians 6 of the armor of God, notice that all the pieces¾the belt of God’s truth, the breastplate of His righteousness, the helmet of salvation bought by Him, the shoes of God’s peace, a shield of faith in God’s promises, and the sword of God’s Word¾all rely on our relationship with Him. It has nothing to do with ourselves; it all comes down from Him.

This spiritual armor is the defense that a close and obedient relationship with God gives you.

• Believing His truth vs. Satan’s lies;
• knowing your relationship as an adopted son or daughter of God Himself, right standing before Him, and the legal rights that go along with that relationship;
• your willingness to share the good news of this relationship;
• your faith in God to protect you; and
• your knowledge that you have eternal life with Him no matter what may happen here in this life;

This is the defensive armor that God offers us.

But there are offensive weapons as well. The “sword” in the spiritual realm is God’s Word—truth to apply to every situation where you feel yourself under spiritual attack; truth about your identity; truth about God’s promises to you; truth about the limited power of the evil one over you.

The other weapon He gives us is prayer—communion with Him. Prayer to align ourselves with God and His will and move with Him to accomplish His plan for our lives and for this world. Truth and prayer are powerful dynamics in the spiritual realm.

It is interesting to note that it was after Paul’s years of ministry in spiritually charged atmosphere of Ephesus that he felt compelled to instruct his friends there in the specifics of spiritual warfare. Was it new information? Probably not since they had many encounters with the territorial spirits that dominated that city. More likely it was a review of things Paul taught while he was there.

 

 

Ephesian Cardo  2008

 

The ministry thrived in Ephesus, and it became a center for the Jesus Movement. When we were there a few years ago, we noticed this symbol carved into the pavement close to the ancient seaport. It was a sign to all arriving that there were Christians in this city.

 

 

 The 'Pie" symbol located near the harbor indicating that there are disciples of Jesus in this city.

 

 

 

 It was now that Paul received his next marching orders:

 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!”  Acts 19:21

He does go to Rome, but not in a manner that he would choose.

 Luke records that ^“the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” So much so that it began to affect the local economy, which was based on the tourism to the Temple of Artemis.                                       

About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; ²⁵ these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of  Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that  gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of  Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

 ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. ³²  So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

Luke’s Greek readers would probably smile as they read this, as many of the Greek comedies focused on the people’s stupidity. The reality that this “assembly” had become a mob.

 ³³ Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

 ³⁵ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? ³⁶ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

Luke wants us to know that what Paul has been preaching is not against Rome, and not illegal according to Roman Law. The town scribe continues:

³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and  proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:23-41

Effective preaching, teaching, prayer, miracles, and simply living the Christian life will often provoke a response in the lives of those around us. There will be many positive responses among many of our friends and neighbors. There will also be often violent pushbacks against us by those who are opposed to our efforts to positively influence our culture.

Do we allow these often-illegal activities to silence us? Intimidate us?

What do we do when society demands that our religious beliefs remain private and never allow them to enter into the public sector, that our morality remains upstairs in the privacy of our homes and never affects or influences our thoughts and behavior in the public marketplace and government halls?

 

 

Such was the case when Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Coney Barret was before a Senate committee during her 2017 confirmation hearings for a federal appeals judgeship. California Senator Diane Feinstein expressed her concerns that if confirmed, Professor Barret would inject her religious beliefs into her judicial decisions:

“Dogma and law are two different things,” Feinstein said. “And I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that’s of concern when it comes to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for in this country.”

In response, Professor Barrett pointed out that there were many sitting federal and state judges who held religious beliefs and who were competent in their roles as judges.

Nancy Ammerman, professor emeritus of sociology of religion at Boston University, said that Americans are very protective of the separation of church and state, but that the principle is often misunderstood.

“We invoke this notion of the separation of church and state, which has to do with using the power of the state to limit the free exercise of religion of the individual. But that’s not what people worry about. Most people worry that religion isn’t supposed to have an impact on politics, that you’re supposed to keep them separate. The reality of the matter is that there are all kinds of ways in which people’s religious faith influences how they think about political issues,” Ammerman said.

Lets take a lesson from history: throughout the past two millennium when Christians have been pressed by their cultures into silence, many have responded with bold preaching and teaching, allowing God to do miracles through them, and cultivating relationships of love and service to their communities. Historically these moves of God has seen societies turn to God in significant numbers.

What will our legacy be?