Ephesus
(Bible Study Time 3-13-05)
Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem toward the end of his second missionary journey, when he visited Ephesus for the first time. He reasoned with the Jews there in Ephesus, and they wanted him to extend his stay, but he decided to continue on to Jerusalem. He did, however, leave Priscilla and Aquila there to continue the ministry.
Paul must have sensed the great opportunities that the Lord was opening up there in Ephesus because it was not long before Paul went back to this city on the far western coast of Asia Minor. When he got back to Ephesus after a quick trip to Jerusalem and Antioch of Syria, he found some disciples, but Luke does not say that they were disciples of Christ. They were just disciples, and Paul wanted to know more about them.
I think that you and I can identify with Paul in this. God had called Paul to reach people with the gospel, and here he finds a group of people who have an obvious interest in spiritual things. He would like to know more about them, but he needs to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He does not want to be rude, but he wants to walk through every door of opportunity that God opens.
God, who is always faithful, gave Paul just the right question to ask. In Acts 19, Paul asked:
(Acts 19:2-10)(NKJ)
2. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" But they said, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
3 Then Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 To which Paul replied, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
3 Then Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 To which Paul replied, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
When they said that they did not know if there was a Holy Spirit, their intended meaning was probably that they were not sure if the Holy Spirit had been given. It's unlikely that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit because John the Baptist spoke plainly that the Messiah would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit. Paul then had the opportunity to tell these disciples that John's ministry involved a baptism of repentance, but its purpose was to introduce Israel to Jesus Christ, who was indeed the promised Messiah.
Matthew 3 tells us about the ministry of John the Baptist.
(Matt 3:1-8)(NKJ)
1. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.' "
4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.' "
4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
John was able to tell the people that the Messiah was coming, but he, himself, did not know who the Messiah was until the Spirit of God descended upon Christ at His baptism. According to John, Chapter 1, John the Baptist said:
(John 1:31-34)(NKJ)
31 "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."
32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
31 "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."
32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
With this in mind, it is easy to see why some of John's disciples may not have received the word that Jesus had been identified as the Messiah and that the Holy Spirit had been given.
The ministry of John the Baptist was glorious, but things had changed since the time of his ministry. It was God's will for these disciples in Ephesus to grow in their understanding of God's plan and purpose. God had so much more for them than what they were experiencing.
This is the nature of a real relationship with God. It depends on growth. Our children sing a prayer that expresses it so well. It says:
Jesus, there's something I want you do know.
I love you, I need you and I want to grow.
Grow in power. Grow in grace.
Grow in your word of truth and grow in the faith.
What a great concept for children to learn, and what a great goal for every believer, to grow in Jesus Christ. Peter admonished his readers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul said that it is God's will for us to grow up in all things into Him who is the Head, even Christ. Oh, how much we miss when we are willing to stay where we are, content with the things that we have already learned and experienced. God always has more for us, if we are open and seeking all that He has to offer.
When the Apostle Paul told these disciples in Ephesus about Jesus Christ, they did not resist the change. They did not say, "I'm satisfied with the way I am right now." No. The Bible says that when they heard about Jesus Christ, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
They did not even know, up to this point, what they were missing, but because they were open to the word of God and willing to receive all that God had for them, they were able grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, and God poured out His blessings upon them.
Well, after this, the Bible says:
(Acts 19:8-10)
8 Paul went into the Ephesus synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Paul mentions here that he taught for two years in the school of Tyrannus after teaching 3 months in the synagogue. This is in harmony with Paul's statement in Acts 20:31 that he ministered in Ephesus for approximately 3 years. What a great ministry Paul had there. I get the impression that Paul just loved being there in Ephesus. Many people were coming to know the Lord. They were growing in the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul really loved these people, and they loved Paul.
This is not to say that there was no opposition to the gospel in Ephesus. Toward the end of Paul's time there, Demetrius the silversmith caused a small riot over Paul's teaching that there is only one God. And when Paul returned to Ephesus at the end of his third missionary journey, he called the elders to meet him in Miletus, and this is what he said:
(Acts 20:18-27)(NKJ)
18 "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's ministry went beyond the ministry of John the Baptist, in that Paul's ministry was not only a ministry of repentance, but a ministry of faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Some ministries today seem to emphasize repentance more than faith in Jesus Christ, but true repentance is a consequence of faith in the word of God. Paul continued in verse 22:
Acts 20:22-24
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul had just written the Romans believers shortly before this and had said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." He was not intimidated by human authority. He was undaunted by the threat of physical torture or even death. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He had witnessed it's power in his own life. He had witnessed it's transforming power in the lives of hundreds of new believers, and he was determined to accomplish all that God had called him to do in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now verse 25:
Acts 20:25-27
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Isn't that inspiring? To see a man who is facing prison and possibly death for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is able to say, "I have not failed to give the gospel, the whole gospel, in every situation where there was an open door. I stand innocent before God of the blood of all men. No one will suffer in hell because I refused to tell them about the gospel of Jesus Christ." Then Paul said in verse 28:
Acts 20:28-32
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Paul knew that he could trust God to care for these believers. God had saved them, and God would protect them until that time when He gives them their inheritance in Jesus Christ. He warned them that false teachers would come in among them. This was a very serious warning. He said that they should not forget that for 3 years he had not ceased to warn them night and day with tears.
The devil is strong. The devil is clever. And he will do everything in his power to destroy the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul says, "Don't let your guard down now." I'm reminded of what Paul said to Timothy: (2 Tim 1:13)(NKJ) "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
Now in verse 33:
Acts 20-33-38
33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Well, this gives us some background information about the book of Ephesians. Next week, the Lord willing, we will begin a study of the book itself.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
No comments:
Post a Comment