The Holy Spirits Power
Acts 19:8-20
Today, let us think about how Gods kingdom gains strength and flourishes through the Holy Spirits power.
First, it involves daily quiet time.
Paul yet again enters the synagogue to teach and give advice on Gods kingdom.
Having established the community of twelve, it was time to nurture it. This is why Paul spent five years in Corinth and Ephesus teaching. But there are those who are obstinate and could not stand to hear Paul spread the word. Verse 9s 'obstinate' means these people had straight, stiff necks, that they considered themselves to be righteous. Because they have all the answers, they publicly criticize and mock Paul. So Paul leaves the crowds and finds a separate place to train his disciples: the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He worked in the morning and spoke at Tyrannus during noon. His every breathing moment was dedicated to spreading the word, and he did thus daily for two years. But because the road he took, however exhausting, was for the mission, Asias Jews and Greeks listened to the word. They became the Holy Spirits forces, scattering to all Asias regions and establishing seven churches mentioned in Revelations. This formed the height of Pauls ministry. The 'daily' part is important: having 'discussions daily', that is, holding quiet time everyday. Everyday, people came to Tyrannus to share and pray through which they learned the most important bible. As listening as part of a community of sinners becomes a daily habit, the Holy Spirits forces become greater.
Second, God allows miracles through their hands.
To show foreigners who had absolutely no faith that the church based around the Tyrannus lecture hall was the real deal, God performs miracles through Pauls hands. If we have taken the teachings to heart, we must now exert its strength through our own hands. That is how we gain the Holy Spirits power to reunite family, break free of addiction, and save lives. They must become the hands that prepare meals for the husband who has come home drunk and raucous, that clean up the room of the reclusive son. It is not the hands of right and wrong, but the hands of this power that kneel down and apologize to our children and parents.
Third, they are not imposters.
We see that there are posers: the 'some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits' from verse 13 and the 'seven sons of Sceva' from verse 14. When the truth is declared, imitations follow and we must always distinguish between them. But it is very difficult to tell them apart. The Jews said, 'In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.' Unlike the adamant demands of Paul, the 'command' from this sentence is closer to a plea. That is, the Jews are slyly compromising with the ghosts. The same goes for the seven sons of Sceva. And so it is not the Holy Spirit that answers them but the evil spirit. Though they claimed they did it to save people, the Jews, the seven sons, and the evil spirits all knew better. There is a power struggle amongst even evil spirits. The 'overpowered' in verse 16 is combined with the word for master, which makes its meaning 'to subjugate'. If you appease the ghosts by negotiating with them, they will start to govern your life and make it miserable. The Holy Spirits power comes from examining the word everyday. Bypassing this step and using the hands just to imitate its miracles only kills you and others. Though they look similar at first glance, the results are completely at odds. Pauls words chase away evil spirits, transform lives, and restore the lives of people around. The similar looking Jews and seven sons words injure us, humiliate us, and so leaves everyone around to die and flee.
Fourth, they confess and burn.
Upon learning of these incidents, the fearful Jews and Greeks of Ephesus confessed. In verse 18, 'those who believed' refer to the people who had heard Paul at Tyrannus. What characterizes them is not that they do not commit sins. Rather, it is that even if they stumble and commit them, they stand before the cross to admit and speak of it. 'Openly confessed' means they did not hide any details to God and the people. When they did so, practicers of sorcery brought together their scrolls and burned them in front of the people. As Paul taught of the Lords kingdom everyday, a community formed in the evil and lustful Ephesus that confessed and burned. The scrolls were worth fifty thousand drachmas, silver coins. This was possible thanks to the Holy Spirits power. In verse 20, 'the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.' The power is not with Pauls supernatural abilities, but with the word. In this way, the Ephesus church grew strong to become the ministry of many great leaders and the center of the Christian boom in Asia Minor.
The following confession is from the community. The daughter of a member of the church majored in design and was working part time teaching five, six year olds at an academy. During which, she took an interview for a job at a design studio. She was accepted, but was told to report to work immediately. So she rejected the academys principals plea to stay on for just two more weeks whilst they searched for a new teacher. The academy threatened to sue. The member of the church asked the community and found there was no legal grounds for such, but there was perhaps a moral problem. The member took the advice of the community and apologized. Though it involved giving up seventeen days worth of salary, the member was grateful for having burned the fifty thousand silver coins and closing off the ordeal. This looks like a small action but it is the great power of the Holy Spirit. When we do not seek to advance our interests, God gives us plenty. I believe as we contemplate the word everyday, confess to the community, and burn repeatedly, the Holy Spirits power will grow. I bless all of you that this power to spread the word to the world should enter your lives.
