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RoadTrip PartSix:PowerfulImpact ByRemyDiederich Text:Acts19,20 Outline: 1. ThesesevenattributeswerepresentonPaul’sRoadTrip: • PowerfulTeaching • PowerfulMiracles • PowerfulDemonicConfrontations • PowerfulPushback • PowerfulTeamwork • PowerfulLeadership • PowerfulImpact 2. ThesearewhatcharacterizethepresenceofGod’sKingdom. Message I’mgoingtowrapupourRoadTripseriesthismorning.Ifyouarenewheretoday,we’ve been following Paul around the Mediterranean Sea as he tells people about Jesus for the firsttime. WefindthisstoryinthebookofActs.ImentionedlastweekthatLukewrotethebookand hisstoriesarefirsthandaccounts.Hewrotedownthestoriesastoldtohimbythepeople involved.Startinginchapter20,you’llseethathewastherewhentheseeventshappened. Sothatmakesthesestoriesextraexcitingtomebecausetheyhavesuchanauthenticfeelto them. TodayIwanttoshowsomeoftheactionthattookplaceonthisroadtrip.Imean,therewas never a dull moment. Today, our Christianity can be pretty sleepy. So I’ve outlined seven powerfuleventsthattookplaceattheendofPaul’strip.I’mgoingtoreadmoreofthetext than I usually do because I just want you to see, first-hand, what it was like in the early days of the church. Then I’ll make a few brief comments as to how these events might happentoday. ThefirstthingweseeisPowerfulTeaching. Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus… Paul entered the synagogueandspokeboldlythereforthreemonths,arguingpersuasivelyaboutthe kingdom of God...[then] Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussionsdailyinthelecturehallofTyrannus.Thiswentonfortwoyears,sothat 1 all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.Acts19:1,8-10 Paultaughteverydayfortwoyears.Jesusdidthesamething.Hetaughtallthetime.WhatI want us to see here is that God works through teaching: through the spoken word. Lives arechangedbygoodteaching. What that tells me is that we need to expose ourselves to good teaching. Our world is constantly preaching to us through television, and music, and advertising. It’s shaping us morethanwerealizeorwanttoadmit. SoyouandIneedtocounterbalancethatinputifwewanttobefollowersofJesus.Coming here once or twice a month and catching a sermon isn’t going to help you become the personGodwantsyoutobe.IlovetohearpeopletellmethattheylistentoAndyStanley, orT.D.Jakes,orJoelOsteenonthewaytowork.Ortheycatchthepodcastofoursermons whentheyareoutoftown.Ihopethat’ssomethingthatyouwilldoaswell. ThesecondthingweseearePowerfulMiracles. GoddidextraordinarymiraclesthroughPaul,sothatevenhandkerchiefsandaprons thathadtouchedhimweretakentothesick,andtheirillnesseswerecuredandthe evilspiritsleftthem.Acts19:11,12 Youknow,ifPaulenteredmostchurchestoday–atleastintheUnitedStates–Ithinkhe’d beshockedatthelackofthemiraculous.GodwaswithPaulinaspecialwaytoestablisha new belief system, meaning that God validated Paul’s preaching through miracles. When peoplewerehealedanddeliveredfromdemons,peoplecouldn’tdenywhatjusthappened. Aftertheysawamiracle,IbettheyreconsideredsomeofPaul’swords.MaybeheWASsent fromGod. I don’t know why God doesn’t reveal himself in the same dramatic ways today. But the Bibletellsusthat,“wehavenotbecauseweasknot.”Idon’tthinkit’sGod’sfaultasmuchas it’sours.Wehavesuchlittlefaith.WehavesuchlowexpectationsforGod.Butifweaskfor moreIthinkhe’dgiveusmore. ThethirdthingweseeonthisroadtripisPowerful Confrontations.There’safairlylong storyinchapter20thattalksabouthowdemonicforcesmanifestedinEphesus.I’llletyou readthatathome. ButIwantyoutoseethatwhereverthegospelispreacheditstirsupthedemonic.Idon’t talkalotaboutthedevilordemons.Idon’tbecausemanyvisitorsherearenewtochurch andIdon’twanttofreakthemoutbytalkingaboutthedevilontheirfirstdayinchurch. ButIbelieveinthedevilandhisdemons.Jesusbelievedinthem.Andsoshouldyou.You should know that there are evil forces out there working against every believer and the churchatlarge. 2 Many people are naive about this and put themselves in situations where they unknowingly invite demons into their life. This might sound crazy, but I’ve seen people impactedbythedemonic. Let me give you one example of what I’m talking about: pornography. People think it’s harmless. They thinkthey can just do ita littlewithouthurting anything. They are naïve. Pornographyopensabigdoorforeviltoenter.That’swhyit’ssohardtostop.It’snotjust theemotionalorphysiologicalaspectsofaddiction.There’saspiritualdimension.Thereis evilatworktryingtodestroyyouandyourfaiththroughyourhabit. IfyouwanttotalktomeaboutitI’mhappytodothat.Iwanttogetyouthehelpthatyou needtobefreetoserveGodcompletely.. The fourth thing we see on this trip is Powerful Pushback. When people turned away from the demonic world to Jesus, they took drastic action. They weren’t measured. They didn’ttryto“justtoneitdown”alittle.Theygotridofeveryhintofevilfromtheirlives. Anumberwhohadpracticedsorcerybroughttheirscrollstogetherandburned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grewinpower.Acts19:19,20 So,theyburnedtheirscrollsandtheyalsoquitbuyingidols.Thisputabigdentintheidol makingbusinessintown.EphesuswasfamousfortheirtempletothegoddessArtemisand thesilversmith’sdidbigbusinessinmakinglittlestatuesofher. So,whenthetradewasthreatenedbyPaul’spreaching,thetownrioted. Soonthewholecitywasinanuproar.ThepeopleseizedGaiusandAristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together.Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples wouldnotlethim.Evensomeoftheofficialsoftheprovince,friendsofPaul,sent himamessagebegginghimnottoventureintothetheater.Theassemblywasin confusion:Somewereshoutingonething,someanother.Mostofthepeopledid notevenknowwhytheywerethere.Acts19:29-32 WhenpeopleturntoJesusinaradicalway,itmakessomepeoplemad.Itrufflesfeathers and makes people uncomfortable. Your spouse might leave you. Your parents or friends mightrejectyou.Yourcompanymightfireyou.Butthesearethekindsofthingsthatcan happenwhenyouputJesusfirstinyourlife. Next is Powerful Teamwork. After the riot in Ephesus, Paul started his trip back to Jerusalemanditmentionshistravelingcompanions: PauldecidedtogobackthroughMacedonia.HewasaccompaniedbySopaterson ofPyrrhusfromBerea,AristarchusandSecundusfromThessalonica,Gaiusfrom Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ThesemenwentonaheadandwaitedforusatTroas.ButwesailedfromPhilippi 3 after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,wherewestayedsevendays.Acts20:4-6 PastorStenpointedsomethingouttomethatIthinkisimportant.StentooknotethatPaul didn’tdoministryalone.Heworkedincommunity.Itwasateam. I want to encourage you, if you want to take your faith to another level, join a ministry team.Whenyoudoministrytogether,it’slikebeingpartofafamily.Ourstaffislikethat hereatchurch.Iseethisintheyouthteamandthechildren’steam.Andyoucanseethisin the teams we send off to dig wells. The shared experience knits people together in a powerfulway. AndnoticehowLukementionsthattherearepeoplefrommanyofthecitiesPaulstopped in. He selected leaders to travel with him so that when he returned home these leaders could return to their cities and duplicate the ministry that they saw Paul do. If you are a leaderhere,Ihopeyouarethinkingaboutwhomyouarementoringtotakeyourplace.If youaren’taleader,Ihopeyouwillfindsomeonesoyoucanbecomealeadersomeday. ThenweseePowerfulLeadership.Paulshowedthiswhenhegatheredhisteamtogether to say good-bye. He called his team together on a beach south of Ephesus. Listen to his heartforGodandGod’speople.Idon’thavetimetocomment,butIputspecificleadership qualitiesinthetexthere. YouknowhowIlivedthewholetimeIwaswithyou,fromthefirstdayIcameinto theprovinceofAsia(transparency).IservedtheLordwithgreathumilityandwith tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents (humility,compassion,perseverance).YouknowthatIhavenothesitatedtopreach anythingthatwouldbehelpfultoyoubuthavetaughtyoupubliclyandfromhouse tohouse(boldness,thorough). IhavedeclaredtobothJewsandGreeksthattheymustturntoGodinrepentance andhavefaithinourLordJesus(clear,Christcentered).“Andnow,compelledbythe Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facingme(risk-taker,sacrificial). However,Iconsidermylifeworthnothingtome;myonlyaimistofinishtherace and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace(faithful). “Now I know that none of you among whom I havegoneaboutpreachingthekingdomwilleverseemeagain. Therefore,IdeclaretoyoutodaythatIaminnocentofthebloodofanyofyou.ForI have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God (responsible).Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.BeshepherdsofthechurchofGod,whichheboughtwithhisownblood.I knowthatafterIleave,savagewolveswillcomeinamongyouandwillnotsparethe 4 flock.Evenfromyourownnumbermenwillariseanddistortthetruthinorderto drawawaydisciplesafterthem.(pastoral) IneverythingIdid,Ishowedyouthatbythiskindofhardworkwemusthelpthe weak,rememberingthewordstheLordJesushimselfsaid:‘Itismoreblessedtogive thantoreceive(hard-working,generous).WhenPaulhadfinishedspeaking,heknelt downwithallofthemandprayed.Theyallweptastheyembracedhimandkissed him.Whatgrievedthemmostwashisstatementthattheywouldneverseehisface again(well-loved).Thentheyaccompaniedhimtotheship.Acts20:18-30,35-38 I share these six attributes with you because it’s easy to let your faith degenerate into a sleepy religion where you just go through the motions. It’s a religion of convenience that has absolutely no impact on your life or the lives of others. But Paul’s ministry had a powerfulimpact.Thatwasthegoalofhisministry:tochangelives. And that’s my final attribute: Powerful Impact. Tonight we’ll be hearing from about 20 people who are declaring their faith through baptism or confirming their faith. Jenni PatnodeisoneofthesepeopleandIaskedhertocomeuptodayandreadherstory.She wasbaptizedasaninfantbutshewantstoconfirmherfaithpubliclytoday. IhavealwaysbeenaChristianforaslongasIcanremember.So,mystoryisnotoneabout comingtofaith,butastoryaboutrenewingmyfaithtohaveameaningfulrelationshipwith God,JesusandtheHolySpirit.IwasbaptizedCatholicasaninfant.Christianitywas,andstill isveryimportantinmyfamily.Iwasblessedtogrowupinahomewherewesaidourprayers everynightbeforebedandwenttochurcheverySunday.IwenttoCatholicSchool,andeven taughtataCatholicSchool.SometimesIhadquestionsaboutwhywebelievedordidthings thewaywedid,butIwasusuallytoldthatthat’sjustthewaythingswere,soIlearnedvery earlyonnottoquestionmyreligion. IwasmarriedinaCatholicChurchtomywonderfulhusbandWestonin2005.Afterstruggling withinfertility,wewentontohavetwoboys,WarnerandBrayden.Westonrarelyattended Catholic Mass with me, and I never really pushed it. Every Sunday, I took our two boys to church by myself, because I wanted our kids to be raised with some sort of Christian background,andIwentbecausequitehonestly,IwasafraidifIdidn’tgo,Iwouldendupin hell.Ididn’tlivemylifeFORGOD,Iliveditjusttryingtoavoidgoingtohell. For months, my sister Heather kept inviting me to check out Cedarbrook with her, and one day,shefinallyasked,“whywon’tyoucomecheckitout?”AndIremembersaying,“becauseI amafraidIwilllikeittoomuch…andthenwhat.”Partofmewonderediftherewasanother waytoknowGod,butIalsohadbeenlivingthiscomfortableChristianlifewhereIjustsaidmy prayers and went to church for an hour on Sunday. Then, before Christmas in 2014, my husbandandIfinallyjoinedheratCedarbrookandwelovedit. SinceIfeltanobligationtomyCatholicchurch,andfearedwhatpeoplemightsay,Istilltook our boys to the 8:30 mass on Sunday at St. Mary’s, and then Weston would join us for the 10:45 service at Cedarbrook. Easter of that year, we had to make a decision. We chose 5 Cedarbrook,andIrememberstandinginchurchthatEasterSunday,andasthebandstarted toplay,IclosedmyeyesandheardGodfortheveryfirsttimeinmylife.Hekeptsayingtome veryclearly,“Youarerightwhereyouneedtobe. You are right where you need to be.” In that moment, I started crying uncontrollably! Poor Weston looked over and whispered, “Are you really that sad that we didn’t go to Easter Serviceatourotherchurch?”Afterthat,IknewCedarbrookwaswhereourfamilyneededto be, but of course that meant getting some push back, actually a lot of pushback, from my parents. I am sure they were hurt, and they didn’t understand. And that hurt me and was reallyhard.IalsohadalotofquestionsforRemy!So,thefirsttimeIeveremailedhim,Iwas sosurprisedwhenherespondedwithananswerotherthan,“that’sjustthewayitis….”SO–I keptemailinghimandhekeptanswering! My faith started to grow at a rapid pace. I was thirsty for the word of God, so I joined the Thursday morning Women’s Bible study where I finally opened the bible that always sat on my nightstand. I had been working through some anxiety in my life at the time, so surroundingmyselfwithGodlovingwomen,andreadingthebibletogetherwasthebestplace Icouldbe.WestonandIstartedtocometochurchtogethereverySunday,whichwasnewfor ourfamilyandwewoulddotheGoingDeeperquestionstogetherinthecarontheridehome. Westartedprayingtogether,andinvitedGodintoourmarriageforthefirsttime!Together ourfaithgrew,andourmarriagegrewonadeeperlevel.Ican’tevendescribehowmuchour marriageandfamilylifehaschangedinthelastyearandahalf. WorshipingGodbecameaGETTOinourhouseandnotaHAVETO!IwassoonfireforGod, thatlastNovember,ItraveledtoNicaraguatodrillawellwithLivingWater,whichwasLIFE CHANGING! It changed my entire view of the world around me. I learned that God is EVERYWHERE.Hisloveandwordreacheseveryone–eventovillagesthatdon’thaverunning water!IsawGodthereeveryday,inthepeopleImet.IrealizedthatGodisSOMUCHBIGGER thenthechurchIworshiphimin.HisloveisSOmuchgreaterthanthat!Ihadbeentakingfor grantedsomanythingsandworryingsomuchaboutwhereIfitinandwhatthe“rightway” was to worship God. And then, on that trip, I felt him. I heard him. I knew he was there in everything we did, I knew he loved me and the things I was worrying about, were things I needed to hand over to him. I realized that he has such a bigger purpose for me. He has a biggerpurposeforallofus.Andworryingaboutallthelittledaytodaythings,andanalyzing everymoveImadeandWORRYINGaboutwhatotherswouldthinkaboutme,waspreventing mefromlivingalifeFORGod. I am so grateful for the opportunity to worship at Cedarbrook! Weston and I finally have those2a.m.friendswehadprayedfor.3yearsago,ifyouhadaskedusifwewouldevergoon aMissionTriptogether,weprobablywouldhavethoughtthatwasacrazyquestiontoask– butinNovember,togetherwewillbegoingtoHonduraswiththeteamfromCedarbrook.And IamexcitedtoseehowGodwillcontinuetogrowourfaithindividually,andgrowittogether ashusbandandwife.Godhasalwaysbeenthere,hehasalwaysbeenapartofourlives,but now we actually have an amazing relationship with him. And today, in front of everyone, I wanttoreconfirmthatfaith.–JenniPatnode 6 This is why we exist as a church. We aren’t here just to give people a place to go on Sundays,oraplacetoperformsomereligiousrituals.We’reheretohelppeopleconnectto Jesusandhavetheirlivesdramaticallychangedforgood. I want to offer a disclaimer. I’m glad Jenni talked about her Catholic upbringing because that’sherstory.ButifyouarenewheretodayandcomefromaCatholicbackground,Idon’t wantyoutothinkthatweregularlytrashCatholics.That’snotwhatweareabout.Irealize thatthisworksbothways.Iwouldn’tbesurprisedifsomeonegrowsupatCedarbrookand never connects with God. And they wind up in a Catholic church, telling the priest that churchmeantnothinggrowingupbutnowtheygetsomuchoutoftheCatholicmass.You see, we are on the same side here. It’s just that sometimes, as young people, we don’t connecttowhat’sgoingonaroundusandwehavetohearitinanewway. IalsowanttomentionthatIloveansweringemails.I’dlovetoanswer50emailsafterevery service.ThatshowsmethatyouarelisteningandwrestlingwithwhatI’msaying. I bet there are other people here like Jenni. You had some kind of church or faith experience but it never meant that much. But hearing Jenni today made you realize that there’smore. IfyouwouldliketorecommityourlifetoJesus,ormakeafirsttimecommitment,letme knowaboutit.Filloutthisconnectioncardanddropitattheinformationbooth.Ifitwould helptomeetwithmeoroneoftheotherpastorstolearnalittlebitmore,putthatonthe caredandoneofuswillcallyou.Youcanemailmetooatpastor@cedarbrookchurch.net. GoingDeeper: Use the following questions for personal reflection and/or to discuss with your family, friends,andsmallgroup. 1. What’saroadtripthatyou’dliketotakesomeday?Explainwhy. 2. WhathasstoodouttoyouinthecourseofPaul’sroadtrip,andwhy? 3. Which of the seven attributes, Remy mentioned, have you seen in your church experience? 4. Read Acts 19:8-10. What role has Bible teaching played in your life? How can you increasetheamountofteachingyoureceivetolearnmoreaboutGodandhisways? 5. ReadActs19:11.Haveyouseenanythingmiraculous,suchassomeonehealed?Why doyouthinkthemiraculouswassostrongforPaulandoftenabsentinthechurch today? 6. Read Acts 19:12-20. Why do you think the seven men were so ineffective confronting the demons? Do you know much about what the Bible says about evil spirits?Doyoubelieveinthem?Doyoubelieveyou’veseenanysignsofthedemonic atwork? 7. ReadActs20:1-6.NoticePaul’steam.Haveyoueverworkedinthechurchonateam toaccomplishaministrytask?Haveyoueverbeenmentoredbysomeoneolderin 7 thefaith?Doyouthinkoneorbothofthesewouldbegoodstepstotaketotakeyour faithtothenextlevel? 8. Read Acts 20:13-38. Paul shares his final word before departing. What strikes you abouthiswords?WhatprinciplesofleadershipcanyoupickupfromPaul? 9. Pray,askingGodtomanifesthiskingdominyourlifeandatCedarbrookinthesame wayhedidthroughPaul. 8