The FightThe Fight

The End of Paul’s 3The End of Paul’s 3rdrd Missionary JourneyMissionary Journey

Acts 19-20Acts 19-20

How would you respond?How would you respond?

A Christian friend says, “I believe in A Christian friend says, “I believe in Christ, but I don’t see why we need to Christ, but I don’t see why we need to get all worked-up about this idea of get all worked-up about this idea of developing a so-called personal developing a so-called personal ministry”ministry”

Laodicea

Acts 19:19 And many Acts 19:19 And many of those who practiced of those who practiced magic brought their magic brought their books together and books together and began burning them in began burning them in the sight of all; and the sight of all; and they counted up the they counted up the price of them and price of them and found it found it fifty thousand fifty thousand pieces of silverpieces of silver..

Laodicea

1 Corinthians 16:8-9 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NASB95)(NASB95) But I will But I will remain in Ephesus remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; until Pentecost; for a wide door for for a wide door for effective effective serviceservice has has opened to me…opened to me…

and there are many and there are many adversaries. adversaries.

The FightThe Fight

23 About that time there arose a great 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.disturbance about the Way.

24 A silversmith named Demetrius, 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the brought in no little business for the craftsmen.craftsmen.

The FightThe Fight

25 He called them together, along with the 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this know we receive a good income from this business.business.

26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.”gods are no gods at all.”

The FightThe Fight

27 “There is danger not only that our trade 27 “There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”divine majesty.”

The FightThe Fight

28 And when they heard this and were filled 28 And when they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 And the city was filled with the confusion, 29 And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. from Macedonia.

The FightThe Fight

30 And when Paul wanted to go into 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not the assembly, the disciples would not let him. let him.

31 And also some of the Asiarchs who 31 And also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. into the theater.

The FightThe Fight

32 So then, some were shouting one 32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know for what cause majority did not know for what cause they had come together.they had come together.

The FightThe Fight

33 And some of the crowd concluded it was 33 And some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. defense to the assembly.

34 But when they recognized that he was a 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Artemis of the Ephesians!”

The FightThe Fight

35 And after quieting the multitude, the 35 And after quieting the multitude, the town clerk said, “Men of Ephesus, what town clerk said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from heaventhe image which fell down from heaven?”?”

36 “Since then 36 “Since then these are undeniable factsthese are undeniable facts, , you ought to keep calm and to do nothing you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.rash.

The FightThe Fight

37 For you have brought these men here 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.” blasphemers of our goddess.”

38 “So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen 38 “So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. charges against one another.

39 But if you want anything beyond this, it 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.” shall be settled in the lawful assembly.”

The FightThe Fight

40 “For indeed we are in danger of being 40 “For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with accused of a riot in connection with today’s affair, since there is no real cause today’s affair, since there is no real cause for it; and in this connection we shall be for it; and in this connection we shall be unable to account for this disorderly unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” gathering.”

41 And after saying this he dismissed the 41 And after saying this he dismissed the assembly.assembly.

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.– Why not believe in Artemis?

She Doesn’t Exist.

She Cannot Save.

She Cannot Even Help.

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.– Po Worship: as Valid as Any Religion?

……A Kind of MadnessA Kind of MadnessFRIEND: Add up all the non believers, and you come

up with more people believe in alternative means to salvation than Christ…

KEITH: What is this? truth by numbers? Democratic truth?

FRIEND: Using the science of statistics, I'm best off in the non Christ group.

KEITH: Strange science, Charles. When the vast majority of people believed the world was flat, they were wrong.

FRIEND: No they were not.

FRIEND: Look outside, using your own perception the world is flatKEITH: sorry Charles, if we're going to debate whether the world is round or flat, i think you just lost me on that one

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.– Po Worship: as Valid as Any Religion?– Imaginary Truth: Arbitrary and Chaotic.

Though they knew God, they did not honor Though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but became Him as God, or give thanks; but became futile in their speculationsfutile in their speculations, and their foolish , and their foolish hearts were darkened. hearts were darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools and Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four footed animals and crawling creatures…and four footed animals and crawling creatures…

Romans 1:19ffRomans 1:19ff

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together…they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!“ Acts 19:32,35 (NASB95)

1 Tim. 4:1 (NASB-U) But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…

An Interesting StoryAn Interesting Story

Dr. Joel HughesDr. Joel Hughes

I got an email today…I got an email today…

The message:The message:““I would like to share with you my new non-profit site, I would like to share with you my new non-profit site, www.holophany.comwww.holophany.com as part of my effort to promote as part of my effort to promote Holophany. Holophany is a new philosophy and logic, a Holophany. Holophany is a new philosophy and logic, a theory of Creation and creativity that weds science and theory of Creation and creativity that weds science and consciousness under the canopy of rational spirituality…consciousness under the canopy of rational spirituality…through Holophany a person can learn the process of through Holophany a person can learn the process of Creation and creativity as well as how to bridge warring Creation and creativity as well as how to bridge warring nations into peaceful relations. Holophany is that body of nations into peaceful relations. Holophany is that body of knowledge where man learns that each and every man knowledge where man learns that each and every man is at once connected to and equally an expression of is at once connected to and equally an expression of God…”God…”

The Background…The Background…

A minor celebrity (for her new age stuff) in Israel… A minor celebrity (for her new age stuff) in Israel… In 1987 she started receiving mainly scientific messages In 1987 she started receiving mainly scientific messages from a spiritual source-”SHET.”from a spiritual source-”SHET.”““Having no scientific background, she turned to Having no scientific background, she turned to physicists to gain insight into the nature of these physicists to gain insight into the nature of these messages as well as to inquire into their worth…they messages as well as to inquire into their worth…they proved to be very valuable. Over the years, she has had proved to be very valuable. Over the years, she has had 1130 sessions with SHET. 1130 sessions with SHET. She was featured in a book about the “ten most amazing She was featured in a book about the “ten most amazing people in Israel” by journalist Rami Shir, and she has people in Israel” by journalist Rami Shir, and she has lectured and held workshops on the SHET material in lectured and held workshops on the SHET material in Israel and Montreal, some of the latter for psychologists Israel and Montreal, some of the latter for psychologists and psychiatrists. and psychiatrists. She’s spamming university email accounts in the US to She’s spamming university email accounts in the US to promote herself…promote herself…

The book…The book…The Website…The Website…

The celebrity…The celebrity…

Some Quotes…Some Quotes…

““Every eye sees God differently and Every eye sees God differently and every eye is right.”every eye is right.”

-SHET-SHET

““Each person, animal or rock is a Each person, animal or rock is a different expression of the spiritual different expression of the spiritual wholeness, of God…”wholeness, of God…”

-SHET-SHET

Conclusion?Conclusion?

SHET is full it…SHET is full it…““a new philosophy and a new philosophy and logiclogic…that weds …that weds sciencescience…under …under

the canopy of the canopy of rational spiritualityrational spirituality……Then: “Since Creation is God’s thoughts…”Then: “Since Creation is God’s thoughts…”

Holophany is a tired rehashing of new-age Holophany is a tired rehashing of new-age pantheism. pantheism. Shet is probably a demon; a Shet is probably a demon; a real spiritual real spiritual beingbeing that that lieslies to this woman. to this woman. Who would buy into this?Who would buy into this?

Who Would Buy Into This?Who Would Buy Into This?

Other, 0.14

Absolute,

22%

Relative, 64%

““Truth Is Relative,Truth Is Relative,Say AmericansSay Americans””

Source: Barna Research Group, February, 2002

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness , although they have denied its power; 2 Tim. 3:2-5

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

" Necessitates a Response.– We should be burdened.

[They] repeatedly urged [Paul] not to [They] repeatedly urged [Paul] not to venture into the theaterventure into the theater

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 (NASB95) Mark 6:34 (NASB95)

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

" Necessitates a Response.– We should be burdened.

“Why can’t you Christians just liveand let live?”

Is It Reasonable to Assume That:

• God would make salvation freely available…

• Pay a Horrific Price for It…

• And Then Regard it all Optional?

It is a terrible thing to fall into the It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:31 (NLT) Hebrews 10:31 (NLT) How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29 (NIV)

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

" Necessitates a Response.– We should be burdened.– It Is Not Possible to Hide.

““Absolute Truth” broken down by:Absolute Truth” broken down by:

Cat

holics

Bust

ers

Secu

lar

Boom

ers

Re-Born

% Y

es

16% 13% 15%

28% 32%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

“There are moral truths which are unchanging, and that truth is absolute, not relative to the circumstances”

Source: Barna Research Group, November, 2001

Evangelicals

Relative, 83%

Absolute, 6%

““Truth”Truth”Among Among

TeenagersTeenagers

Source: Barna Research Group, February, 2002

The FightThe Fight

Falsehood Exists.

" Leads to a Kind of Madness.

" is Contagious.

" Necessitates a Response.– We should be burdened.– It is Not Possible to Hide.– Christians Cannot Sit Still.

Paul Could Not Sit StillPaul Could Not Sit Still

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. When he had gone to go to Macedonia. When he had gone through those districts and had given them through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. much exhortation, he came to Greece. And And therethere he spent three months… he spent three months…

Acts 20:1-6 (NASB95) Acts 20:1-6 (NASB95)

“…“…had given them had given them much exhortation”much exhortation”

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: I "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: I know your deeds, your hard work and your know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first… did at first… Revelation 2:1-5 (NIV) Revelation 2:1-5 (NIV)

Paul’s ResponsePaul’s Response

And he was accompanied by Sopater of And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, Berea, the sonthe son of Pyrrhus, and by of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and Asia. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas… were waiting for us at Troas…

Acts 20:1-6 (NASB95) Acts 20:1-6 (NASB95)

But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NASB95)

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first…Revelation 2:5 (NIV)

The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12

On the first day of the week, when we were On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul gathered together to break bread, Paul beganbegan talking to them, intending to leave the next day, talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. and he prolonged his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.where we were gathered together.

And there was a young man named Eutychus And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. floor and was picked up dead.

The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12

But Paul went down and fell upon him, and But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, "Do not be after embracing him, he said, "Do not be troubled, for his life is in him." troubled, for his life is in him."

When he had gone When he had gone backback up and had broken up and had broken the bread and eaten , he talked with them the bread and eaten , he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. a long while until daybreak, and then left.

They took away the boy alive, and were They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted. greatly comforted.

The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12

What does it mean?What does it mean?

Let's not be too hard on Eutychus. At least Let's not be too hard on Eutychus. At least he was there for the service, and he did try he was there for the service, and he did try to keep awake…to keep awake…—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament

Sleeping when hearing the word, is an Sleeping when hearing the word, is an evil thing, a sign of low esteem of the evil thing, a sign of low esteem of the word of God. —Matthew Henry Conciseword of God. —Matthew Henry Concise

Christians who slumber during one hour in church Christians who slumber during one hour in church somehow manage to stay awake during early somehow manage to stay awake during early morning fishing trips, lengthy sporting events and morning fishing trips, lengthy sporting events and concerts, or late-night TV specials…We need to concerts, or late-night TV specials…We need to prepare ourselves physically for public worship to prepare ourselves physically for public worship to make sure we are at our bestmake sure we are at our best—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament—Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament

The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12The Eutychus Syndrome 20:7-12

What does it mean?What does it mean?

““Christianity Today”Christianity Today”

How would you respond?How would you respond?

A Christian friend says, “I believe in A Christian friend says, “I believe in Christ, but I don’t see why we need to Christ, but I don’t see why we need to get all worked-up about this idea of get all worked-up about this idea of developing a so-called personal developing a so-called personal ministry”ministry”