Awake Us Now

Why did Jesus refer to Himself so often (81 times in the Gospels) as "The Son of Man?" The answer lies in a dream God sent to Daniel almost six centuries earlier!

For some people, politics becomes their god. But Daniel, promoted to the highest office in the land, continued to serve the Living God and trusted in Him for deliverance from jealous enemies.

Let's did deeper into the first few verses of Acts chapter 19.

Acts 19:1-3 Paul arrives in Ephesus, finding some disciples and asks them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They respond that they had not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit and that they did receive John's baptism.

So these are followers of John the Baptist but did not have the full picture. (That the coming the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus who was crucified for our sin, raised on the 3rd day, seated at the Father's right hand, and returning. And that Jesus brings the Holy Spirit to believers).

Acts 19:4-7 Paul tells them that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance and that John told people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus, the One who has come. So on hearing this they were baptized in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes on them.

In Acts we see several

Fillings with the Holy Spirit:

• 120 followers of Jesus (Acts 2)
• Jewish believers at Pentecost (Acts 2)
• Samaritan believers (Acts 8)
• Saul the persecutor (Acts 9)
• Cornelius and the Gentiles (Acts 10)
• Followers of John the Baptist (Acts 19)

What we see in this list that God's gift of the Holy Spirit is for ALL and God's desire is that we live daily in the power of His Holy Spirit!

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Belshazzar celebrated his reign in pride and mockery of God... and lost everything. But to those who approach God in humility, repentance, and belief, God offers everything worth having: forgiveness and eternal life!

King Nebuchadnezzar gave powerful testimony to the One God, but only after God first leveled his pride and then restored him to the kingship. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we in the 21st Century are often blind to our own sins of pride, lack of mercy, and moral failure. What will it take to make us see them as God sees them?

Pastor opens with Who and what was worshiped then:

Athens - Athena - Knowledge

Corinth - Aphrodite - Sex

Ephesus - Artemis - Money

Rome - Emperor - Power

As we look at this list, all of the what's still apply to us today.

Pastor's question now becomes personal: "Who or What do you worship? What is at the heart of your life?"

Acts 19:1-8 - Then - Paul goes to Ephesus and for 3 months speaks in the synagogue boldly arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God - God's rule in the lives of true believers. Today we too need to hear about the kingdom of God because it is at the heart of this kingdom is Jesus and His story. His story shows us God's heart as we listen, read and seek genuine biblical teaching.

Acts 19:9-12 - Then - Some of the people listening to Paul became obstinate; refusing to believe and publicly spoke against Jesus. Then Paul leaves the synagogue taking his disciples with him and instead had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, doing this for 2 years to so that all Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul during this time including healing the sick, curing illnesses expelling evil spirits. Today - It is still important to learn the fundamentals of the Scriptures and the importance of the supernatural power of God. God was moving in amazing and miraculous ways then and that continues around the world, today. We are called to embrace clear biblical teaching and the understanding that God ACTS both then and now!

Acts 19:13-21 - Then - The use of magic and occult practices were common and some Jews tried using Paul's words of "in the name of Jesus,(adding "whom Paul preaches,") I command you to come out," when driving out evil spirits from the demon-possessed. A Jewish chief priest's seven sons were speaking these words one day and the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" These are people using Jesus' name as a magic charm. Suddenly the man that had the evil spirit jumps on the seven sons and overpowers them all. This is spiritual warfare. When the news of this event became known to those living in Ephesus, people were seized with fear and the name of Jesus was held in high honor. People realized that Jesus' name had life changing power. The result was many who believed now came and openly confessed - repented- of what they had done in practicing sorcery. They brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly and the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. We today continue to experience spiritual warfare. We too are to repent and get rid of those things that pull us away from the truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Repentance is to be a way of life. The message of Jesus is life changing!

Acts 19:22-34 The Uproar - There is an uproar. Peoples' lives are being changed and so the enemy is pushing back and those living and proclaiming God's truth are attacked. We hear the "all about the money" frustration because Paul has convinced large numbers of people to no longer purchase the idols that craftsmen were making. The craftsmen also say that Artemis will end up being discredited by Paul's teachings. The crowd gets furious and begins to shout "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" And the whole city is in an uproar. Such an uproar that people just joined in, not even knowing why they were there. In the chaos, Paul's traveling companions are seized and rushed into the theater area. Paul wants to appear with them before the crowd but his friends would not let him. In the theater Alexander and Jews resistant to Paul's teachings, step up to make a defense before the people but is unable as it is turning into a near riot now. Still today we need to consider how the love of knowledge, sex, money, power or another things takes the place in our lives that belongs to God alone.

Acts 19:35-41 - Order is restored - The city clerk steps in and warns the crowd.

Now back to our original question: Who or What is worshiped in our lives. Where are our hearts. Who is God and Lord in our lives?

Real faith is not knowing certain Bible truths - it is knowing Jesus as our Savior, Deliverer, and Returning King. It is all about a transformed life through faith in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the work of our Heavenly Father.

May God bring that about in all fullness in our lives.

This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 19-20.

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It is by God's power, it is by being strong in Him, it is in using the armor of God that you and I can not only stand against the devil's schemes, but also witness to others whom God is leading out from the power of the devil. Pastor Dodge also shares a personal testimony of spiritual warfare that shows the power of God to defeat the enemy, because God IS stronger!

Ephesians 6:10-11

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Salvation in Jesus Christ is free - but there is a cost to discipleship. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to follow me, let that person take up his or her cross and follow me daily." Daniel and his companions remind us the the cost can be huge, but the reward is far greater!

In today's message, we see that it was God who gave Daniel the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream -- a dream sent to show that God alone knows the future and that though empires crumble, God's Kingdom will be established forever over the entire earth!

Jesus never promised His followers an easy journey. What He does promise is a great destination, and He assures us of the presence of His Holy Spirit to uphold, to guide, and to reveal, so that His people may be equipped to lead the nations back to Him!