When it comes to the Gospel of Christ, it is easy to underestimate its power. In many cities around the world, there are groups of Christians who want to see the Gospel penetrate entire regions, not just a neighborhood. But is that possible? Acts 19 gives us an answer. Paul had travelled to Ephesus where he teamed up with the few believers who were there and started to preach the Good News of Jesus. 

For two years he continued to preach the Gospel, and we read in Acts 19:10 that “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” The proclamation of the Gospel was accompanied by the power of God’s Spirit as He actively demonstrated His power. Paul healed the sick and drove out evil spirits from those who were possessed."

When these events became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus we read, “they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned 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 grew in power.” Acts 19:17-20

Two phrases stand out in Acts 19. The first is that, “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” The second is that, “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” Those are encouraging words for any who desire the Gospel to spread rapidly in their city or region. We cannot control the outcome of the Gospel but we can create the soil for it to grow if Jesus chooses to bless it. If this could happen in the pagan city of Ephesus, it can happen in your town as well. 

What prepares the soil? The consistent preaching of God’s word, faith that God can act, asking Him to show up in power, repentance from our sins and prayer that God will act. Never neglect to pray that God would touch not just a neighborhood but a city or a region. There have been many such movements in history and there will be again if we are simply faithful and believe in the power of the Gospel.

There are coalitions of Christians across the world that are banding together across denominational lines to pray that there would be a similar movement in their city. Let’s pray for our city and expect that God will act in His unique time and His unique way. All we need to do is to prepare the soil.

PRAYER

Father. I long to see Your Gospel come to my city and region. Would You raise up a Christian community here who want the same thing and who are willing to work together toward an Acts 19 result? We long for Your name to be held in high honor here where we live. Amen.