Steve Webb 0:00 Paul was determined to run and to finish the race. Steve Webb 0:04 It's the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. My name is Steve Webb. I'm your OG Godcaster. It's gospel Saturday and Our reading today is x 19 and 20. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. Check it out. There are over 3000 episodes over there. I'll have contact information at the end of the show today. Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. and I ask Lord today that you would bless us as we read, teach us we pray in Jesus name, amen. Okay, let's get started. Steve Webb 0:42 Acts chapter 19. While Apollo's was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? They answered, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. So Paul asked, then what baptism Did you receive John's baptism? They replied, Paul said John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him that is in Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about 12 men and all. Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate, they refused to believe and publicly maligned the way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannis. This went on for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon possessed. They would say, in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, we're doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them. Jesus I know and Paul, I know but who are you? Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, 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 with a hidden 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 50,000 drachmas. In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Acadia. After I've been there, he said, I must visit Rome also. He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erasmus to Macedonia while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. About that time, there arose a great disturbance about the way a silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with a workers in related trades and said, you know, my friends that we receive a good income from this business, and you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus, and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that God's made by human hands are no Gods at all. There is a danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself who was worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world will be robbed of her divine majesty. When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting great as Artemis of the Ephesians. Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized gas and Aris Dorcas, 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 would not let him even some of the officials of the province friends of Paul sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. The assembly was in confusion, some were shouting, one thing Psalm and other. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people but when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours. Great is Artemis of the Ephesians the city clerk quieted the crowd and said fellow Ephesians doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is The Guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image which fell from heaven. Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you want to calm down and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blaspheme God goddess. If then Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody. The courts are open and there are pro consoles, they can press charges. If there is anything further you want to bring up it must be settled in a legal assembly. As it is, we're in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case, we would not be able to account for this commotion since there is no reason for it. After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. Steve Webb 5:42 Acts chapter 20. When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples encouraged them said goodbye and left for Macedonia. He went through that region and spoke many words of encouragement to the people that and he went to Greece and stayed there for three months. When Paul was going to board a ship for Syria, he found out that the Jews were plotting to kill him, so he decided to go back through Macedonia. So Peter, son of Paris from Berea, Eros, Dorcas, and saguna is from Thessalonica. Gay is from Derby, Timothy and Tiki s and Trophimus from the province of Asia accompanied Paul all these men went ahead and were waiting for us intro s. After the Festival of Unleavened Bread, we boarded a ship at Philippi. Five days later we joined them and trow ass in stayed there for seven days. On Sunday, we met to break bread. Paul was discussing scripture with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day he kept talking until midnight, many lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we were meeting, a young man named unicus was sitting in a window. As Paul was talking on it on unicus was gradually falling asleep. finally overcome by sleep, he fell from the third story and was dead when they picked him up. Paul went to him, took him into his arms and said, Don't worry, he's alive. Then unicus went upstairs again, broke the bread and ate. Paul talked with the people for a long time until sunrise and then left. The people took the boy home, they were greatly relieved that he was alive. We went ahead to the ship and sailed for the city of Asmus. At as we were going to pick up Paul, he had made these arrangements since he had planned to walk overland to as us when Paul medicine as us we took him on board and went to the city of mid aleni. We sailed from there. On the following day we approached the island of chaos. The next day we went by the island of Samos, and on the next day we arrived at the city of my Letus Paula decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible. From my Letus, Paul sent messengers to the city of Ephesus and called the spiritual leaders of the church to meet with him in my Letus. When they were with him, he said to them, you know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia, I humbly serve the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I serve the Lord during the difficult times I went through when the Jews plotted against me, I didn't avoid telling you anything that would help you. and I didn't avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house. I want Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus, I am determined to go to Jerusalem. Now, I don't know what will happen to me there. However, the Holy Spirit warns me in every city, that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. But I don't place any value in my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus, the mission of testifying to the good news of God's kindness. Now, I know that none of you whom I told about the Kingdom of God will see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the spiritual death of any of you. I did not avoid telling you the whole plan of God. Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's Church, which he acquired with his own blood. I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won't spare the flock. Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them. So be alert. Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes. I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God's holy people. I never wanted anyone's silver, gold or clothes. You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me. I have given you an example that by working hard like this, we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said you Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them. When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. Everyone cried a lot as they put their arms around Paul and kissed him. The thought of not seeing Paul again hurt them most of all, then they took Paul to the ship. Steve Webb 10:18 So in Acts 19, Paul's sort of stirred things up in Ephesus, didn't he? There was a whole industry built around the worship of Artemis and the silversmith, Demetrius even had a financial interest in keeping people devoted to this false god didn't he? It was big business. What really caught my attention about this scene was when, during the confusion at the big assembly, it said in verse 32, that most of the people did not even know why they were there. Well, that even happens now with big demonstrations, doesn't it? There's mass confusion, shouting and even violence. and many of the demonstrators don't even know why they're there. and some are there for their own vested interests. As Demetrius was. Well as it says, In Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun. Beloved, people don't change, circumstances change, but men and women are still the same. They needed Jesus in Paul's time, and we need him now. and then in x 20, the thing that stands out to me is where Paul says, I want to finish the race that I'm running, I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus, the mission of testifying to the good news of God's kindness, Paul, have already been on the receiving end of quite a lot of persecution. and the Holy Spirit told him that in every city imprisonment and suffering was waiting for him. Yet Paul was determined to run and to finish the race. I love it. I want to have that kind of determination to don't you. When your race is over, and you stand before God, don't you want to hear the words well done good and faithful servant. To me, that'll be a glorious day, and I'll do whatever it takes. I'll go through any trial to hear those words. I hope you feel the same way. and as time runs down, and I believe we are in the final days, living for Jesus is not going to get any easier. We look at the news today, and we see how persecution against believers around the world is growing. and one of the most important things we can do is to decide before persecution comes to us what we will do when we look it in the face. That's one of the reasons we're told in scripture that we will face trials. God wants us to know that things aren't going wrong when these times come. He wants us to know that it's part of his plan, and he wants us to prepare mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Have you given any thought to what you'll do when this kind of persecution comes your way? I pray? It never does. But it is good to be prepared. What are your thoughts? You have any questions? Let me hear from you send to Boostagram or call the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an email info on how to do that we'll be in just a few minutes. Tomorrow will be epistles Sunday, and we'll complete the book of First John by reading chapters four and five Steve Webb 13:10 there are two associate producers I need to thank today first is Lifespring family Berean brother Halle who came in with $150 Thank you Brother, how he God bless you. and anonymous came in with their weekly $33.33 cent magic number donation. Thank you anonymous and God bless you. and Michael Haner is today's associate producer. He came in with his weekly $7.77 striper donation. Thanks, Michael. God bless you guys. I'm so thankful your support, you're awesome. You too can support the Lifespring! One Year Bible with a value for value donation, learn more right here Lifespringmedia.com sash supports. and there's one more to add fountain users 702 weights and in an 800 set Boostagram on the Malachi 1-4 "Even so come quickly" episode. and it says in memory of PG_Chris from NAsocial. Wow 7028 I'm afraid I'm completely out of the loop on this. I only check in on any social once or twice a month. So I don't know PG Chris, can you get back to me with more info? I'd sure appreciate it. It's always sad to hear if anybody's passing. Steve Webb 14:21 Okay, so yes, I would love to hear from you call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511 and if you have a prayer request or a praise report, and tomorrow is Sunday, so we will have a time of prayer. Go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com you'll find an easy to fill out form right there. If you have a comment on this episode or a question go to comment.lifespringmedia.com or send an email to me at steve@lifespringmedia.com. and last but certainly not least, send to Boostagram using a modern podcast app that you can find it podcast apps.com. Steve Webb 15:07 Sister Denise Michael Haner Scott Snider, Jason Paschall and sister Brittaney Are the team. Thanks so much guys, and Jason Paschall did today's show art, and thank you, beloved, for inviting me to join you today. Let's do this again tomorrow. Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye Steve Webb 15:30 Lifespring media bringing the message of hope, love and good news since 2004 Transcribed by https://otter.ai