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Tag: holy spirit

Sailing Home on the Aegean
And when they had come to him, he said to them,
“You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials..
Acts of the Apostles 20:18-19a LSB – The Apostle Paul bidding farewell to the Ephesian elders

As you know Paul and apostles of his third missionary journey have set sail for Jerusalem.

Three Years in Ephesus with Tears

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock.. – Acts 20:28a – the Apostle Paul’s parting advice to the elders of the church.

Anatolian peninsula

Reflecting back on a Third Missionary Journey

Paul had begun this third mission in about A.D. 52 setting out on land from Antioch to visit churches all along the Anatolian peninsula until reaching the Aegean at Ephesus, a distance of more than 500 miles.

A.D. 57

In addition to starting and nurturing an important church in Asia Minor, namely Ephesus, the Apostle had then crossed the Aegean into Europe and done the same for churches in Thessalonica, and Berea; the important Achaian city of Corinth, returning to Thessalonica once more then traveling to the Roman stronghold at Philippi.

The Aegean Missions by Sea

Although these missionaries have bypassed Ephesus on their return to Jerusalem, note Paul’s APOSTOLOIC LETTERS encouraging CHURCHES during these same years:

Epistles to the Thessalonians
- 2 THESSALONIANS (possibly)
  - (if it had not already been delivered during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey along with 1 Thessalonians and an epistle to the Galatians.)
- TWO LETTERS TO THE CORINTHIANS
- PAUL’S LETTERS TO THE ROMANS,
  - including the major theological epistle preserved in the Bible
  - and no doubt other letters to individuals in Rome as in other cities.
Acts of the Apostles 21:

Now when we had parted from them and had set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos..

and the next day to Rhodes..

and from there to Patara;

.. and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

And when we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo.

Land Ho! Almost Home

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days.

Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
Acts of the Apostles 21:4 – New International Version

a word of warning
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Note three things Luke is about to tell us about their arrival:
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- μαθητής (mathētēs) – they sought out OTHER followers of Christ and stayed with them (seven days here in Tyre)
  - disciples in every port AND on various parts of Paul’s missionary journeys various disciples become apostles also sent out to other churches.
  - SEE the list: These disciples are both men and women.
- They spoke to Paul in the Spirit.
  - λέγω – legō
    
    conversation between believers, exhortation in this case they must have thought received through the Spirit
    
    (We’ll come back to this..)
  - πνεῦμα – pneuma
    
    Let Christ-followers reading ‘Spirit‘ 70 times in Acts understand that this is the Holy Spirit who joined in these conversations.
- disciples Prophesied to Paul through the Spirit what would happen if the Apostle ‘set foot’ in Jerusalem (as he had planned).
  - Soon other disciples will provide addition detail of these prophesies though the Spirit.
When it was time to leave, [Luke tells us] we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.

6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
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Does the intimacy of their parting not remind us of the Ephesian elders as these apostles crossed the Aegean and Mediterranean?
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διά – λόγος – [dia – log]
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'dialogue' of 'Christians' -literally, dia logos, dia legō 
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- discourse
- to say, to speak
- through
  - by the means of:
the HOLY SPIRIT or HOLY GHOST!

And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

“But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:43, 10:43, 15:11,
references to Strong’s G1223 – dia – meaning “through“

DO NOT DISMISS or overlook frequent intimate conversation between 1st century followers of Christ AND their continual dialogue through the Holy Spirit.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

The Apostle Paul has RECENTLY [A.D. 57] written in a letter to Roman Christ-followers:

.. the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5b excerpt [the context could not be more important]

NEXT: The apostles continue their return from Paul’s Third Missionary Journey and the Holy Spirit reveals more details through prophesy of what will take place in Jerusalem.

Talk of JESUS .com
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Let's have some dia-log here, dear brother/sister in Christ.
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April 9, 2024
and fear fell upon them all – Phobias from the enemy
FEAR descends upon us without warning when we least expect it. This is what has just happened in places distant from our secure homes and times more near these last days.

Acts of the Apostles 19:
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TODAY we return to Ephesus in the first century of our Lord and then quickly jump forward to fearful times ahead and even now in this 21st century of the Common Era.

IF you missed the account of Paul's previous preaching of Jesus Christ you might want to look back first.
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Evil spirits, exorcism, possession of Power

What do we fear?

Disgrace, as these men ran away from a situation over which they claimed to have power?

DEATH perhaps, IF the enemy should prevail?

The Apostle Paul [Saul of Tarsus] was a RELIGIOUS man once feared by Christians as he pursued the unrighteousness of men and women turned from Almighty God.

But a more powerful JESUS and the Holy Spirit had intervened most unexpectedly. NOW Paul in Christ demonstrates God’s POWER!

ACTS 19 – Believe in JESUS!

6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them..

.. some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude..

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul..and the evil spirits went out of them.

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them..
Acts of the Apostles 19:16a NKJV

PAUL HAD POWER! Unseen power. The Jewish priests observed reactions of people who had witnessed this mysterious unseen power and sought such control of the crowds as well.

18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
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We may safely suppose that their confessions included the ordinary sins of every man and woman and their deeds being the evil against God and others so common in our everyday lives.
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19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Fear of the unseen enemy

The LORD GOD is your enemy when YOU SIN against HIM!

Satan and unseen spirits in which many of you do not believe are ENEMIES of the LORD GOD and His only SON JESUS CHRIST sent to SAVE you from the Judgment of your SIN.

This CHOSEN NATION of GOD had sinned and fallen many times.

AND they continued to deny Christ’s grace and power over sin demonstrated in JESUS.

Priests and preachers had sinned against the SON of GOD sent to HIS OWN for forgiveness of SINS.

The King of the Jews was sacrificed on a Roman Cross in Jerusalem.

Paul who by now has confessed Christ witnesses to the gentiles of first century Roman Asia Minor. The Apostle once again demonstrates the power of Jesus Christ OVER sin.

AND as always, there arose a great commotion about the Way. [v.23b]

מָשִׁיחַ מָשִׁיחַ
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PHOTO above from the 3-part Gospel Series: 12 Men Texting as their Messiah approaches
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a Common Era parable – phobomai
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We interrupt these ACTS of the first century for 
BREAKING NEWS from Israel in this 21st century of the Common Era
and a parable of current events.
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A man with seven sons and seven daughters whom he had set over an inheritance of great wealth and influence sent them out to build new settlements for his grandchildren. One day his oldest son gathered all of their brothers and sisters for a great music festival of songs celebrating the culture of their fathers.

So as a trumpet sounded from the besieged holy hill beyond the locked gate they departed toward this rave for the ages led by local guides into the valley of the shadow near the salt sea.

To be continued…
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In the diaspora, the first day is known by its biblical name, Shemini Atzeret. We still dwell in the sukkah, but without a blessing. Yizkor, the memorial for the departed, is also said on this day.

The second day is known as Simchat Torah, during which we complete and immediately begin the annual Torah reading cycle. - source: Chabad.org
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7 October, 2023 of the Common Era

At the RAVE of the enemy in the valley of the shadow many fall victim.

It was NOT a festival to the LORD God and the enemy provokes the spirit of evil in any who seek pleasure in sin and death.

May God have mercy on their lost souls.

FEAR

φόβος – phobos – From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear)
- Fear, dread, terror
- that which strikes terror
And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. And fear [G5401 – phobos] gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying,

“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!”
Gospel of Luke 7:15-16 Legacy Standard Bible

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars,
and on the earth anguish among nations,
in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
men fainting from fear [G5401 – phobos]
and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world;
for the POWERS OF THE HEAVENS will be shaken…
Gospel of Luke 21:25-26 LSB
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We return now from the 21st c. C.E. to a FEAR in those witnessing GOOD in the Name of JESUS in the first century of the Lord in Ephesus recalling:
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And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear G5401 fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
Acts of the Apostles 19-17 LSB

Reaction against the Power of God

IT ALWAYS HAPPENS THAT WHEN GOD WORKS MIGHTY ACTS OF POWER THAT UNGODLY MEN WILL DO EVIL AGAINST THE WITNESSES OF GOD AND CHRIST JESUS.

ACTS 19:23 NKJV

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said:

“Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Some men FEAR disgrace, most men and women FEAR death, yet many cling to tradition forged into idols of culture condoning our sin and denying our mortality.

These would lead the leaven of life into a pit of eternal punishment.

“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
Paul later writes to the ROMANS, quoting PSALM 36

Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying,

“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

The Apostle Paul’s ACTS in Ephesus – To Be Continued, God-willing…

Acts 19, death, fear, God, holy spirit, israel, Luke, paul, phobia, romans, war
October 14, 2023
Powerful Preaching to powerless Christians
Preaching the Lord Jesus

What was the difference in the preaching of Apollos and Paul?

In Acts of the Apostles 19 Luke gives it to us straight. Paul discovers some disciples who have already heard the powerful preaching of Apollos.
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Let's take a look at Luke's account translated authoritatively in the King James Version:
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And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

SO WHAT WAS PAUL’S FIRST CONCERN ABOUT AN APPARENT LACK OF ZEAL FOR CHRIST?

The HOLY Ghost, who we will return to once we examine today’s map of where Paul and Apollos have been AND when these men preached the Gospel.

Apollos – Itinerary to Corinth

Of course before he departed for home a year ago via Ephesus, PAUL had already preached in Corinth.

PLUS out of his concern for the Corinthians Paul will soon write two epistles to their church about three years from now.

Apollos and Paul – Apostles crossing paths

PREVIOUSLY Luke tells us in ACTS 18:24 – Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.

Luke’s account also provides details from about three years earlier in A.D. 49 that the Emperor Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. – Acts 18:2

Consequently this was how Apollos came to meet Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Jews now disciples of Jesus Christ in Ephesus [~A.D. 52].

Alexandria, home of Apollos on the north coast of Africa, was a key Roman port as you might imagine from viewing the map in our previous post of Paul and Apollos crossing paths in the Aegean, where Corinth and Ephesus, in addition to Philippi where Rome had won a key battle, became strategic ports of Rome for their legions, navy and commerce by sea, as well as entry points to inland travel for everyone mostly on Roman roads.

Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus

Luke records that this powerful preacher Apollos had proclaimed JESUS boldly to the Jews, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. [Acts 18:26]

THEN they encourage Apollos to go on to Corinth, Achaia where he will proclaim a more accurate Gospel. Yet many have already accepted Apollos’ preaching in Ephesus, even as Paul will encounter these on his way into to city.

What preaching is POWERFUL or Eloquent?

(AND WHY did Aquila and Priscilla take such an articulate preacher of Scripture aside?)

Luke describes Apollos’ preaching as eloquent
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λόγιος, λόγιον (λόγος), in classical Greek
1. learned, a man of letters, skilled in literature and the arts; especially versed in history and antiquities.
2. skilled in speech, eloquent: so Acts 18:24
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AND mighty in the scriptures

Paul will later write to the Corinthians whom he left earlier and where Apollos now preaches:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

that he was buried,

that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians 15:3-4,11

Apollos preaches the (O.T.) Scriptures accurately explaining how JESUS fulfills the old covenant. Priscilla and Aquila, companions of Paul understanding the Apostle’s testimony well, point Apollos to a more accurate and complete Gospel.

Again, Paul later reminds the Corinthians to stand firm in what he has preached.

And as always, here in Ephesus, Paul tests the teachings of those the he encounters as the Apostle has always done in so many far removed places of a vast Roman Empire.

Paul – Itinerary to Ephesus

The Apostle Paul once again begins his third missionary journey across land, even as he had previously with Silas as they left their home church in Antioch Syria.

Roman cities of Syria

Luke does not detail specific stops of these apostles on the way to Ephesus, but has stated that their purpose was to build up the church where established new followers of the Lord Jesus Christ – GENTILE followers join in worship with JEWISH followers.

Have YOU received the HOLY Spirit?

As Paul nears Ephesus to the west from Laodicea and Colossae the Apostle inquires what believers truly believe.
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In fact, these might be good questions for YOU as you worship alongside followers of Christ more mature in their faith and refined in the true Gospel of Scripture.
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- If you did NOT receive the Holy Spirit when baptized, then WHAT if anything CHANGED?
- And YOU REPENTED of what?
- So are YOU permanently CHANGED from what old SINS to what RIGHTEOUSNESS in CHRIST?
Luke’s account of Paul asking such questions goes like this:

Acts 19 – Paul in Ephesis

There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them,

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said,

“Into what then were you baptized?”

They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

A POWERFUL Sign for powerless disciples

Here in Ephesus the Lord again provides a sign through the HOLY SPIRIT by the hand of the APOSTLE PAUL!

Acts of the HOLY SPIRIT

“Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water,
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4b NASB

This is not unlike in Luke’s introduction in ACTS of the Apostles which took place some twenty years before back in an upper room in Jerusalem where the TWELVE and other disciples had been commanded by the Lord Jesus to wait.
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Do not be sidetracked by the sign of the Holy Spirit given in these early days of the Gospel by the POWER of the laying on of hands OR the MYSTERY of speaking in tongues OR the prophesy given by God to speak what is to be in these last days. 
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These disciples of hoped-for righteousness remained powerless by their mere turning from the sin of the past to works hoping to please God. JOHN baptized JESUS and confirmed that HE IS the ONE to come!

CHRIST CRUCIFIED,

CHRIST BURIED WITH OUR SINS,

CHRIST RISEN IN THE BODY AND SPIRIT,

CHRIST RISEN AND SENDING out THE HOLY SPIRIT to those chosen before time,

CHRIST raising SINNERS forgiven IN HIM to remain with HIM always…

Rather than be raised to a JUDGMENT where the LORD could choose to say,

I NEVER KNEW YOU. Go away to ETERNAL punishment.

Luke will continue with another example of PREACHERS seeking POWER like that of Paul.

ACTS of the Apostles — To Be Continued, God-willing

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September 9, 2023