Today’s Reading: Zech 6:1–7:14, Acts 22:22–23:22, Job 29:13–25

Today’s Theme: Use Practical Wisdom and Justice

Today’s theme looks at the pursuit of social justice and the use of practical wisdom. We begin with Jesus the Messiah who branches out and build Gd’s true house, the Church, as the body of Christ we should be kind to each other.

In the NT reading we see Paul using the practical everyday wisdom that God has given him in very difficult circumstances. Finally in Job we see that Job was like and MP using his life and influence to pursue justice.

Zechariah 6:1–7:14

Jesus branches out and builds the church

And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. (Zechariah 6:12, ESV)

The Branch is a reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus fulfils this prophecy not by rebuilding the temple like Zerubabel did but by building his church as he mentions in Matthew 16:18

Don’t waste your time

“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? (Zechariah 7:5, ESV)

If our religious activity is not truly for God it is a waste of time

Be kind to each other

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” (Zechariah 7:9–10, ESV)

God wants us to pursue mercy and justice and wants us to be kind to each other

Acts 22:22–23:22

Know and use the law

But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25, ESV)

God lead Paul by His Spirit to use the law of the land to his advantage. Lord help us to use the law of the land to further the cause of the Gospel

God will strike

Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” (Acts 23:3, ESV)

Those who oppose the Gospel put themselves in danger of being struck by God

Be alert and perceptive

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” (Acts 23:6, ESV)

We need to be alert and perceptive like Paul, this was a great strategic move

Take courage

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11, ESV)

Jesus himself came to comfort Paul, The Lord want us to take courage in our stand for Him too

Practical wisdom

Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” (Acts 23:17, ESV)

Paul used the practical wisdom and common sense God has given him, he did not go into prayer about this, his actions were quite straightforward

Job 29:13–25

Job the MP

I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. (Job 29:15–17, ESV)

Job was no slouch, he lived out his faith in the pursuit of social justice and it seems he had the position and influence to do something about it, we could think of him as a godly MP or Lord today

Be a councillor

“Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. (Job 29:21, ESV)

Not shy, very wise and respected, Job was the chief of the men of his city. Lord help us to be people that others can turn to for advise

Today’s Reading: Zech 3:1–5:11, Acts 21:27–22:21, Job 29:1–12

Today’s Theme: God, Sovereign over the enemy

Today’s theme is about God’s sovereignty over the enemy and his sovereignty over our call to serve him.

Zechariah 3:1–5:11

The Lord rebukes Satan

And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2, ESV)

This is key in spiritual warfare, it’s not about us rebuking the devil but declaring that the Lord rebukes the devil, this is picked up in the book of Jude.

Notice the Lord declares himself as the one who choose Jerusalem. God has chosen his people too and in that context of ownership he rebukes the enemy over our lives.

Iniquity taken away

And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” (Zechariah 3:4, ESV)

This happens to us in Christ, God deals with our accuser the devil, removes the dirty clothes of sin from us and takes away our iniquity, but that is not it, we are clothed in robes of righteousness… Hallelujah

Jesus the Branch

Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. (Zechariah 3:8, ESV)

The Branch is a reference to Jesus

Fight by the Spirit

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6, ESV)

We walk and fight not by our own might or power but by Gods Spirit, that is why in the next verse the prophet is told to shout Grace, grace to the mountain. It is by the grace of God that the mountain like obstacles in our lives will come down

Complete the task

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 4:9, ESV)

The Lord helps us to complete the tasks he has given us to do

Our plumb line

For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Our plumb line is the bible

Serve in honesty

I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.” (Zechariah 5:4, ESV)

We must give and serve with honest hearts, this reminds me of what happened to Anninas and Safaria

Lady Wickedness

And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening. (Zechariah 5:8, ESV)

Wickedness is depicted as a woman, I think this is because of the cunning deception and allurement of wickedness

Acts 21:27–22:21

Beaten for the Lord

He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. (Acts 21:32, ESV)

This should not be read lightly, it’s likely this was a severe beating, they were beating him to death. Remember those who are violently persecuted for the faith in Jesus today.

Use your education to God’s glory

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? (Acts 21:37, ESV)

Yes Paul knew greek, he was a well educated man. God can use your education to his glory

Relate to those you speak to

And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: (Acts 22:2, ESV)

Paul was really gifted in relating to people, he knew speaking in Hebrew would grab their attention

Appointed tasks

And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ (Acts 22:10, ESV)

God appoints, pre-plans and elects concerning our lives as his chosen vessels. What have you been appointed to do?

Chosen for service

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. (Acts 22:14–15, ESV)

Again sovereign choice is at work even in our election for service

Personal testimony and the Gospel

And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” (Acts 22:21, ESV)

Paul’s commission to the Gentiles was the purpose and plan of God, also note that Paul is using personal testimony and experience to share the truth of the Gospel here.

Job 29:1–12

Pray for those who have lost children

when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, (Job 29:5, ESV)

It must have been so hard for Job, just saying this would have been heart wrenching, all his children were killed. Pray for those who have endured the pain of losing a child

Job the judge and counsellor

because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. (Job 29:12, ESV)

Job was not just rich, he used those riches to help other, he was like a judge in the gate of the city, like a city counsellor

Today’s Reading: Zech 1:1–2:13, Acts 21:1–26, Job 28:12–28

Today’s Theme: God’s Grace and Wisdom

Today’s theme looks at God’s grace and wisdom. God is gracious in calling those who have fallen away to restoration, in sending his patrol angels throughout the earth, being a wall of fire to his people and redeeming a people for all nations, tribes and tongues.

God in his wisdom and grace warns Paul through prophetic symbolism and in Job we hear of preciousness of God’s wisdom.

Zechariah 1:1–2:13

A call to backsliders

Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 1:3, ESV)

This is not a call to sinners but to Gods own people who have rebelled. Lets pray for backsliders to return to the Lord

The patrol angels

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ (Zechariah 1:10, ESV)

God has patrol angels, I’m sure these keep demons in check, like God’s police force.

God, gracious and comforting

And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. (Zechariah 1:13, ESV)

This sounds like God, he speaks gracious and comforting words to his people, God could have spoken in power and authority but he chose to speak in a way that considers the fact that we are dust

Jerusalem is special to God

So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. (Zechariah 1:14, ESV)

Jerusalem is a special place for God, unlike any other.

A wall of fire

And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” (Zechariah 2:5, ESV)

Lord be a wall of fire around our lives

The apple of God’s eye

For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: (Zechariah 2:8, ESV)

The children of Israel are the apple of Gods eye, to be against them is to poke a finger in Gods eye

God’s people, more than national Israel

And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:11, ESV)

The people of God go beyond national Israel, this is true now as the church is Jew and Gentile

Acts 21:1–26

The Holy Spirit warns

And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:4, ESV)

The Holy Spirit used the believers to warn Paul about the danger in Jerusalem and that he should not go there

Prophetic symbolism

And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” (Acts 21:11, ESV)

This was a genuine prophecy, here we also see prophetic symbolism used, the distinctive is that this is not used for a wish but an actual prophecy.

Ready to lay it all on the line

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13, ESV)

Paul was ready to lay it all on the line for the Gospel, we should be the same

James not Peter

On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. (Acts 21:18, ESV)

James “Not Peter” was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The Roman Catholic papacy has always been built on the misunderstanding that Peter was the leader of the church.

True Christianity is not anti Jewish

And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, (Acts 21:20, ESV)

How can Christianity be anti Jewish when so many thousands came to faith

Job 28:12–28

Precious wisdom

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. (Job 28:18, ESV)

This and all the other comparisons made are so true, wisdom is is more precious than any financial thing

God’s wisdom

“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. (Job 28:23, ESV)

Yes, true wisdom belongs to God, this is why in James we are encouraged to ask for wisdom

Wisdom defined

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ” (Job 28:28, ESV)

This is a simple working definition of wisdom

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1:1–2:23, Acts 20:1–38, Job 28:1–11

Today’s Theme: Work in God’s House

Today’s theme is about us working in and on God’s house. We explore the problem of selfishness and the relative poverty it brings.

We will spend time in both Haggai and Acts looking at the ways we should work and the methods we should use to serve in the church and build up fellow believers as the body of Christ.

We will see that we need to work in the Spirit, by the Word and really make an effort because there is hard work to do, so we should use our money, time and resources to bring God pleasure and glory through the church.

Haggai 1:1–2:23

Serve in the church

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? (Haggai 1:4, ESV)

Offering and service in the church are really important, we should ensure that our lives are not just about us and our own household but Gods wider purpose in and through the church

The futility of selfishness

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:6, ESV)

This barrenness is in context to not giving to Gods purpose. Lord keep us from this sort of futility, help us to be prosperous in you.

Bring God pleasure and glory

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. (Haggai 1:8, ESV)

The purpose of the church is that God would be pleased and glorified through it

Don’t be self centred

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. (Haggai 1:9, ESV)

The source to financial difficulty can be selfishness and a failure to comply with the mandate to build and maintain the church through both finance and service

Be moved by the Spirit to work

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Haggai 1:14, ESV)

Lord stir up your people by your Holy Spirit to work on and in your house

Work

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, (Haggai 2:4, ESV)

We have work to do and it is not about the glory of the thing we are working on, it is the fact that God is with us and gives us the mandate to work, the value is in the work rather than the product of it

The money all belongs to God

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:8, ESV)

A true perspective on money. 10% doesn’t belong to God, 100% belongs to God, Lord help us to be a good stewards of your money

Work by the Spirit

Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:14, ESV)

We must not just work in the flesh but in the Spirit as we serve in the house of the Lord

Work because you have been elected

On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23, ESV)

Gods own specific sovereign election of Israel should fill us with confidence in God’s election of us as his people. We know he has chosen us so we can boldly and generously serve in his house

Acts 20:1–38

Encourage the saints

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. (Acts 20:1, ESV)

Paul had a real heart for the disciples and waited before leaving to encourage them. We should always be sensitive to encouraging those around us

Building through encouragement

When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. (Acts 20:2, ESV)

Again Paul is revisiting disciples and encouraging them in the faith, the sense of the greek word is to urge the saints on in their walk (Word Study)

Other senses of the word from BDAG
1. to ask to come and be present where the speaker is, call to one’s side
2. to urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage
3. to make a strong request for something, request, implore, entreat
4. to instill someone with courage or cheer, comfort, encourage, cheer up

Building through fellowship

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7, ESV)

A reference to the church meeting for worship on Sunday

Building through teaching

And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. (Acts 20:11, ESV)

This was a prolonged time of teaching, the church needs good teaching to grow.

Serve in humility and through trials

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; (Acts 20:19, ESV)

This was Paul’s main base in Asia and he served there through all his trials

Teach the Gospel

how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21, ESV)

Paul’s main purpose in ministry was to teach. The subject of his teaching was the Gospel

The importance of the Gospel

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, ESV)

Testifying to the truth of the Gospel was more important to Paul than his life, we should have the same perspective and priority

God’s whole word

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27, ESV)

We need to have boldness to declare and teach the whole council of God not just our favourite parts

The definite atonement

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28, ESV)

We were brought with the blood of Jesus, this is a definite atonement, the price has been paid in full.

Beware wolves

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (Acts 20:29, ESV)

Jesus and Paul warn against wolves, these are false teachers and the church must be on our guard against them today

Grace builds

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32, ESV)

The teaching or word of Gods grace will build up the saints and give us an inheritance as we realise our spiritual riches

Work hard

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35, ESV)

Ministry is hard work

Job 28:1–11

The earth’s core

As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. (Job 28:5, ESV)

This is a correct scientific understanding of the earth as the core and mantle are fiery

Today’s Reading: Hab 2:6–3:19, Acts 18:1–28, Job 26:1–14

Today’s Theme: Conflict for God

Today’s theme is about the conflict we go through for God. Sometimes the conflict is internal with our own faith, we shouldn’t turn back, be complacent or prideful. We also need to fight the good fight by sharing the gospel, reasoning, and making disciples.

We must boldly enter into conflict, internally, spiritually and socially for God, to the glory of his name.

Warning, conflicting for God without God is dangerous.

Zephaniah 1:1–3:20

Don’t turn back

those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.” (Zephaniah 1:6, ESV)

Those who turn away for the Lord and backslide in compromise, spiritual adultery and faithlessness open themselves to the judgement of God

Don’t be complacent

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ (Zephaniah 1:12, ESV)

Lord keep me and my brothers from complacency, we must guard against this lazy attitude, we must violently press forward into the kingdom of God

This is the error of both Deism and “Hyper Calvinism”, God is a avery real person and is very actively involved in our lives, not in a distant way but in a very real way. Like Paul said he is closer to us than we think

The nature of sin

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. (Zephaniah 1:17, ESV)

God takes our sins as a personal offence against Him

God’s passion for his Glory

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (Zephaniah 1:18, ESV)

God’s righteous jealousy and zeal for his glory means that evil, sin and sinners must be destroyed, Gods passion drives his judgement

Seek God

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zephaniah 2:3, ESV)

No matter how dire the day we must walk in humility and seek the Lord, that we might find mercy in the day of Gods judgement (temporal)

Why are so many against Israel having the territory they have?

“I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. (Zephaniah 2:8, ESV)

look at the news… this is happening today, although this is relevant to the past too by the context of the next few verses

Don’t boast

This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts. (Zephaniah 2:10, ESV)

Christians are warned against this in the NT by Paul in Romans not to boast against Israel.

Be teachable

She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. (Zephaniah 3:2, ESV)

We must not be like this proud, unteachable city, we must be able to listen to correction in humility and like a child put our trust in the Lord

Defend the word of God

Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law. (Zephaniah 3:4, ESV)

So many do violence to the word of God today, we must defend the true interpretation of God’s word in the midst of the many false and lazy teachers

Accept correction

I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (Zephaniah 3:7, ESV)

If we accept Gods correction, we can avoid punishment and judgement

Be humble

But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, (Zephaniah 3:12, ESV)

How do we survive in the light of who God is? Humility is our only refuge

God rejoices over you

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)

Jesus is our great King and the promised king of Israel. God is mighty to save his chosen people. God rejoices over His people, they bring him pleasure and he quiets our fears with His love

Acts 19:1–41

John’s Baptism?

And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” (Acts 19:3, ESV)

They were under Johns ministry so were not yet Christians yet

Tongues and proclamation of the truth (prophecy)

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (Acts 19:6, ESV)

Notice that with the tongues came prophesying, in fact tongues in the first instance were prophesying in different languages. This is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to the Glory of God and the growth and confirmation of the church

Keep reasoning

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8, ESV)

Again Paul reasoning and persuading, this was his strategy and notice it was not one visit but a continued interaction for three months

Discipleship vs debate

But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. (Acts 19:9, ESV)

Paul was more concerned with discipleship than debate, so he moved away from those speaking evil of “the Way” (Christians) and continued the program of disciple making for a prolonged period of two years.

We need to know when to move away from opposition so the work of God can continue.

God’s victory

This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:10, ESV)

Despite the opposition, God is victorious, the word spread through all Asia.

You need to know Jesus yourself

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” (Acts 19:13, ESV)

We need to know Jesus ourselves, quoting others who know Jesus just will not do

True authority

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15, ESV)

Demons recognise true authority, in this realm it can not be faked

God turns it around

And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. (Acts 19:17, ESV)

The folly of these men who attempted to use Jesus name like a magic weapon aside from knowing him and so without His power was turned around to bring Glory to God.

Jesus vs Magic

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. (Acts 19:18, ESV)

These events exposed the superior power of Jesus over magic and witchcraft, leading to its exposure and ultimate defeat

The mission continues

So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:20, ESV)

The victory of the mission and word of God

Follow your regenerated heart

Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21, ESV)

We must be decided and fully resolved in the Holy Spirit to do what God has put in our hearts to do

The queen of heaven

And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” (Acts 19:27, ESV)

This is the queen of heaven now worshiped in Roman Catholicism as Mary

Demonic atmosphere

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. (Acts 19:32, ESV)

A crowd draws a crowd and when they started to declare praise to the demon god artemis a demonic atmosphere of frenzied confusion filled the air.

Demons have the power to affect the atmosphere

East vs West

But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:34, ESV)

This shows early divisions between east and west, Jew and Greek, this was common when rival gods and religions created great divisions, the east has not changed much today

Use wisdom

For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. (Acts 19:37, ESV)

Paul and his fellows used wisdom when evangelising in a hostile environment

The devils plans will not succeed

And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:41, ESV)

The devils plan is thwarted

Job 27:1–23

Have a soft heart

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. (Job 27:6, ESV)

Job is holding onto his integrity here and this is good, although at the same time, the statement that his heart does not reproach him for any of his days shows there is some pride here too

Teach with balance

I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal. (Job 27:11, ESV)

Again although the things Job is about to say to his friends is sometimes true of Gods hand of Judgement to the wicked, very often God extends mercy seeking the repentance of the wicked.