Posted on 10/19/2013 12:05:11 AM PDT by jodyel
I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you? (Acts 19:15)
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was truly remarkable. I love reading about it in Acts 19. It always inspires me with what God can do through men filled with the Spirit who consecrate themselves to Christ, willing to live for him and die for him. Ephesus was notorious for pagan worship. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was there, the Temple of Diana, and people came from far and wide to engage in pagan ritual. The city was large, having a population of around 330,000, and its sports stadium, built by Nero, could seat twenty-five thousand. We know, from both secular history and the biblical account in Acts 19, that Ephesus was overrun with demonic possession. Her sorcerers, as Shakespeare wrote were ‘dark-working sorcerers that change the mind, soul-killing witches that deform the body.’2 In fact pagan and Jewish exorcists regularly plied their trade, seeking to deliver people from the terror of demons. Exorcists had developed a book of incantations they chanted when exorcizing demons, known in antiquity as the Ephesian writings. When the Holy Spirit began to convert large numbers of the people, some who were engaged in black magic, brought their books and burned them publicly. Luke tells us that the books were worth fifty thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:19). Today that would mean $25 million.3 Talk about a mighty societal impact!
Luke also tells us that Paul’s ministry was so powerful, accompanied by extraordinary miracles, that handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from Paul’s body and carried to the sick. Diseases and demons left the people. Apparently some of the Jewish exorcists were watching Paul and mimicked his words as he cast out demons. They thought they could do the same thing and said to the demons, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches’ (Acts 19:12-13). Then Luke reports that a Jewish chief priest (probably an apostate Jewish priest) named Sceva had seven sons who sought to cast out demons, invoking the name of Jesus and Paul. The chief demon spoke derisively to them, ‘I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ The man in whom the evil spirits resided jumped on the sons of Sceva, subduing and overpowering them, driving them from the house, both naked and wounded (Acts 19:15-16).
It is clear that Jesus and Paul are known in hell. The sons of Sceva were not. Are you known in hell? In other words – are you a threat to the devil’s status quo? Is Satan concerned about your prayers that move the Spirit to action, your holiness that upgrades your family and church community, your evangelistic work that depopulates hell, your preaching or teaching that humbles and debases men while exalting and praising Jesus?
Elijah is known in hell. He was a troubler in Israel to the hardhearted and worldly Jews who refused to repent and return to Yahweh. He was a troubler to Baal worshippers who persisted in leading Israel away into idolatry and sexual immorality. He was a troubler to Ahab and Jezebel who refused to repent and met horrible deaths. Elisha is known in hell. The young boys, driven by wickedness, mocked him, and were eaten by bears, exposing Satan’s scheme to mock the messengers of God. The demons which sought to keep Naaman in the darkness of leprosy could not stand against him.
Jeremiah is known in hell. He constantly warned Judah to repent, and their hatred against him cost him freedom and brought untold sorrow. He did not quit preaching, even though Satan had blinded the eyes of the unbelieving.
Daniel is known in hell. He refused to keep the status quo when realizing the utter depravity of the exiles and poured out his heart in confession, contrition, and supplication for another mighty movement of God.
Isaiah is known in hell. His vision of the thrice holy God humbled him to the dust, moving him to say, ‘Here I am. Send me.’
Ezekiel is known in hell. He warns Judah of impending doom, calling them to repentance, declaring to them that their failure to speak out means the blood of the damned is on their hands. He would not relent in the face of Satanic deception.
Habakkuk is known in hell. His perplexity over Nebuchadnezzar’s impending invasion of Judah, while devastating to him, nonetheless moved him to praise the Lord no matter what may happen. No self-pity there!
And Zechariah is known in hell. He constantly prophesied of a better day for Israel, working against Satan’s chief tools of discouragement and accusation.
They all preached fearlessly, calling the people to repentance, suffering the rejection, ridicule, and degradation thrown at them by the prince of darkness.
Are you known in hell? Is Satan upset with you? Does he have his target painted on your mind, heart, and will? Is hell being adversely affected by your life and ministry? These are the questions that ought to be periodically addressed by each of us, but especially by those of us who earn our living by preaching.
What characterizes those known in hell? First, they know they are called by God to preach the gospel (Acts 26:16-20, Rom. 1:16, 1 Cor. 9:16, 2 Tim. 4:1ff). Consequently a mantle of power and authority rests on them. They speak and live with a godly swagger, proclaiming the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31, Eph. 6:19-20). They are willing to be fools for Jesus sake. They do not count their lives as belonging to themselves. They spend and are spent for the sake of the gospel. They know they are to labour to the very end of their days, giving all they have – body, mind, spirit, money, time, and energy. They are successful in their preaching and evangelistic ministry. That is, they see converts and people follow their lead (>i>Phil. 3:17). When they leave this world there are more Christians than when they came in, and it is because of their gospel labours. They speak the truth in love. They don’t water down application when preaching. They make soul-searching, man-debasing, hope-building application, moving people to Christ for salvation and sanctification. Their ministries begin to erode and undermine the societal depravity that characterizes every community on earth. On the university campus, the gospel of Jesus becomes a point of discussion. The ethics of Jesus are taken seriously and people begin to jettison ungodliness. They inspire people to imitate Jesus, if not fully to live for him. Their ministries experience serious opposition and attack from the world, and often from the church. They weep for the lost. They grieve over their own sin. They are humble, contrite, and tremble at God’s Word. They always are rejoicing, all the time, in every circumstance. They never give up. They live with heaven in full view. Their lives are rich with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Are you known in hell? Seek God earnestly until the devil knows and fears you. Nothing else matters.
I want a good ending.
It is guaranteed and you have a major role. God already won, for the forces of darkness, if they only knew that God Himself could live inside all of us, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. It’s like a chess game, and all of the lines lead to a win for our side. It is Finished. Selah
Nothing else Matters, Rock on Metallica.
-Frank
Are you a member of the Westboro church?
Guess it depends on who Greg West is?
Sure, glad you like it.
Sure, glad you liked it.
The Temple is God’s dwelling place as manifest by His Shekinah(dwelling) Glory. He chooses where He will dwell.
No, it appears Elsie maybe LDS material.
Have you asked that girl out yet ?
No, just never have the opportunity.
You gotta try, dude. Find a way... any way. You’ll regret it greatly if you never do. She could be the one.
You are fired up, Frank!
I hope I will be that brave.
Better not be, elsie, my dear!!
LOL
Are you a member of the SLC branch of Mormonism?
If so; worry, my friend; worry!
"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;
and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given,
and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned.
Brigham Young - JoD 3:266 (July 14, 1855)
Speaking of hell...
JESUS: Hey Smith! Remember that boast you made about doing more than even I had done to hold the 'church' together?
JOSEPH SMITH: Where am I?
JESUS: Don't you remember? A few seconds ago you were in that jail.
JOSEPH SMITH: Oh; yeah; but where am I NOW?
JESUS: Don't you remember? Does bang - bang ring a bell?
JOSEPH SMITH: Oh; yeah - that crummy gun I had was about USELESS!
JESUS: I hope you left instructions on how to hold your church together.
JOSEPH SMITH: Dang! I knew there was SOMETHING I was forgetting!
JESUS: Looks like there's a power struggle going on down there.
JOSEPH SMITH: Yeah; there was always SOMEone who wanted the power that I held - especially over the LADIES - wink wink.
JESUS: No need to worry about that now; remember what my friend Matthew wrote down?
JOSEPH SMITH: This? “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30)
JESUS: That's it.
JOSEPH SMITH: I thought that was mistranslated.
JESUS: Nah - it was right.
JOSEPH SMITH: Oh well; it was fun while it lasted. My buds will still get it on with the girls.
JESUS: Uh; I'm sorry; in just a few more years; your followers will cavein to the United States government and abandon the 'Eternal Covenant' that you came up with.
JOSEPH SMITH: ME!? YOU are the one that told me to do that!
JESUS: Sorry; but you must have mistranslated what I told you. What part of Do NOT commit ADULTERY did you not understand?
JOSEPH SMITH: mumble....
JESUS: What did you say?
JOSEPH SMITH: Oh, nothing.
JESUS: Well; it was interesting talking to you; but now I must get back to perparing a place for those who believe in Me.
JOSEPH SMITH: Oh, yeah; the Celestial Kingdom.
JESUS: No...
JOSEPH SMITH: The Telestial one?
JESUS: Nope.
JOSEPH SMITH: SUREly not the TERRESTRIAL one!!
JESUS: Nope. Didn't you read that the mind of man had NOT conceived of it? Paul wrote it down in 1 Corinthians 2:9.
JOSEPH SMITH: I thought that was mistranslated.
JESUS: No; it wasn't.
JOSEPH SMITH: You SURE?
JESUS: Yes. Now I must be going: what did you say your name was again?
JOSEPH SMITH: Joseph Smith.
JESUS: Hmmmm. According to my Heavenly FAITHbook, you didn't sign in as one of my friends - sorry, I never knew you.
JOSEPH SMITH: But....
Not only are you obsessed; you're also twisted. You seem to consider that I may go to Hell with glee. I assure you (not that you matter in the big scheme of things) that my soul belongs to Christ. Did you ever consider that your time might be better spent bolstering the message of Christ rather than scraping around in the slime and condemning those that you really have no idea about?
Any religion, is in itself sinful. They all have rituals/rites/requirements that Christ made clear were sinful and contrary to His plan. He gave us the two great Commandments to love God with every fiber of our being and to love our neighbor (all other people) as ourselves - for where there is love, there is no harm and that condition fulfills the essence and intent of the original commandments.
He also told us to resist not evil - that's His job and we are uniquely unsuited to judge and condemn others. Doesn't mean we can't be discerning, but it is not our place to pass such hatred and judgement as you seem to feel yourself to be qualified to do.
I'd think that someone whose soul belongs to Christ would spend their time bolstering the message of Christ instead of trying to tar someone with a scurrilous allusion that they could possibly belong to Westboro.
...but it is not our place to pass such hatred and judgement as you seem to feel yourself to be qualified to do.
Sorry; but I am merely the messenger for those who have ABANDONED the clear teachings of MORMONism.
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