Sunday, April 26, 2015

Today´s Sermon Notes



2015.04.26                Acts 19:11-41
                       Paul in Ephesus part 2
Acts 19:10-12                           NKJV
10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 19: 10-12                             slt 2000
10 Das geschah zwei Jahre lang, so daß alle, die in [der Provinz] Asia wohnten, das Wort des Herrn Jesus hörten, sowohl Juden als auch Griechen.
11 Und Gott wirkte ungewöhnliche Wunder durch die Hände des Paulus,
12 so daß sogar Schweißtücher oder Gürtel von seinem Leib zu den Kranken gebracht wurden und die Krankheiten von ihnen wichen und die bösen Geister von ihnen ausfuhren.

v11… Now God worked unusual miracles… Luke states that these were unusual miracles….. For example that Paul's handkerchiefs or aprons (literally, "sweat-bands") could be laid on a person even without Paul present…. that person would be healed or delivered from demonic possession…..   the phrase unusual miracles could be translated….. Miracles not of the ordinary kind….. Even in talking about miracles…… Luke said that these were of a very unexpected sort!
How did the handkerchiefs or aprons work? In the same way that the shadow of Peter healed in Acts 5: 12-15…..  or when the people touched the hem of Jesus' garment in  Matthew 14:36… Everyone of those who touched the hem of Jesus garment was healed…. These physical items became “points of contact”  through which a person reaching out in faith…. believed that the Lord would heal them….  These very unusual miracles had a purpose…. To confirm the Authority and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles….
Back to Acts 19….v11,12….
This text does not say that Paul did these unusual miracles….  He did not decide to send out pieces of cloth…. He certainly did not send them out for money as seed faith outreaches….  but The text says that God worked these miracles….
Remember that Luke said that these were unusual miracles… we should not expect God to continue to use this method to heal….
The total number of people who had the gift of healing in the scriptures is very small…. When we get past the founding of the church as recorded in the Acts and the letters to the early churches….. We do not see a continuation of unusual miracles….. But if you ask me if God still heals….. The answer is yes… I believe that God can and does heal today…. There is no proof that God does not heal today….. But the idea of Someone who has the gift of healing and can heal anyone anytime…. at will….. That clearly does not exist….. The key is the idea…. This kind of incredible instantaneous supernatural power has not existed since the establishment of the church….lets continue… Acts 19…v..13..
Acts 19:13-16                             NKJV
13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered[b] them, and prevailed against them,[c] so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Acts 19:13-16                             slt 2000
13 Es versuchten aber etliche von den umherziehenden jüdischen Beschwörern1, über denen, die böse Geister hatten, den Namen des Herrn Jesus zu nennen, indem sie sagten: Wir beschwören euch bei dem Jesus, den Paulus verkündigt!
14 Es waren aber sieben Söhne eines jüdischen Hohenpriesters Skevas, die dies taten.
15 Aber der böse Geist antwortete und sprach: Jesus kenne ich, und von Paulus weiß ich; wer aber seid ihr?
16 Und der Mensch, in dem der böse Geist war, sprang auf sie los, und er überwältigte sie und zeigte ihnen dermaßen seine Kraft, daß sie entblößt und verwundet aus jenem Haus flohen.

v13a… Some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists….. At that time, there were Jewish exorcists who practiced their "trade" with a lot of superstition and ceremony….. Here, a group of Jewish exorcists try to imitate Paul's "formula" for success…..

v13b…. We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches…. The Jewish exorcists failed because they had no personal relationship with Jesus…. They only know Jesus is the God of Paul… not their own God…..
There are many religious people - many churchgoers - who will end up in Hell because they have not been transformed by the new birth…. They have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ….. They only know "the Jesus the pastor preaches" or of "the Jesus my spouse believes in" instead of the Jesus of their own salvation….
Application…..
Do you have the "right" to use the name of Jesus?
Is Jesus your Savior and redeemer….? These sons of Sceva   had no personal relationship with Jesus…..
v15… And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?....
The evil spirits knew exactly who Jesus was….. they knew exactly who Paul was…. But they didn't know who the seven sons of Sceva were…..  

v16… Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them…. Because the seven sons of Sceva had no real relationship with Jesus…. they had no spiritual power against the evil spirit…. They left the encounter naked and wounded…. It was dangerous for them to take the reality of spiritual warfare lightly…. V17…
Acts 19:17-20                            NKJV
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 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. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Acts 19:17-20                            slt2000
17 Das aber wurde allen bekannt, die in Ephesus wohnten, sowohl Juden als auch Griechen. Und Furcht fiel auf sie alle, und der Name des Herrn Jesus wurde hoch gepriesen.
18 Und viele von denen, die gläubig geworden waren, kamen und bekannten und erzählten ihre Taten.
19 Viele aber von denen, die Zauberkünste getrieben hatten, trugen die Bücher zusammen und verbrannten sie vor allen; und sie berechneten ihren Wert und kamen auf 50 000 Silberlinge.
20 So breitete sich das Wort des Herrn mächtig aus und erwies sich als kräftig.
v17a…This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus….
v17b… and fear fell on them all…. The incident with the sons of Sceva impressed the people with the reality of the demonic realm….. It made them fear the Lord and the demonic….. both in healthy ways….. and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified….. Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan…. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practiced…. Books containing formulas for sorcery and other ungodly arts were everywhere……
v18… Many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds…. Apparently, before the sons of Sceva incident….. many believers did not realize they were involved in the demonic…..  
v19… Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all… The sons of Sceva incident also prompted Christians to renounce any remaining connection to the demonic. They renounced the demonic by confessing their sins….. Some repented and believed the Good News of the Gospel…. They were radically transformed…. They burned their magic books….  
These books and scrolls full of magic charms “amulets” were very valuable….. The drachma was a silver coin representing about a one-fourth a day's wage…. The value of these was perhaps a million Euro in today’s money…
v20… The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed….. The Good news of the Gospel was spreading out everywhere…… Here in this very important gateway to Asia Minor… The Word of the Lord was confirmed by these unusual miracles and the Awesome power of God that was demonstrated through Paul´s ministry…. Remember… Paul´s ministry was not about healing…. It was not about deliverance…. It was about proclaiming the Good News to a lost and dying city full of sin and wickedness…. You know…. Like Wiesbaden…
In the Gospel of Luke…. Jesus drew a clear picture of what world evangelism is all about….. He said: "For the Son of man has come to seek and to save the lost"…Luke 19:10…  Jesus did not come simply to save the lost…. He came to seek those who were lost….
Jesus is here today….. He has sought you out and Jesus himself has made sure that you are here this morning….. Jesus is ready to forgive you and save you from your sin and rebellion…. Today is the day…. Repent and turn away from your sin…. Turn to Jesus…. Today…. Tomorrow is promised to no man….  Look again at Luke 19…v10…
"For the Son of man has come to seek and to save the lost"…Luke 19:10…Jesus went about seeking the lost…..
What an example! He is telling us to do the same….. If we look at the lives of the apostles in the New Testament, we see this same pattern…..  Paul followed Jesus´ example… We should follow them…. As the church we need to get back to evangelism…. To get back to the teaching and proclamation of the Word of God…. We need to stop wasting our time on less important tasks….
Yesterday we had a street outreach again…. Salafists….Radical haters of the government in Egypt….. Jehovah’s witnesses….
Back to Acts 19… v20
v20… The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed….. That´s what happened in Ephesus…
v21,22…
Acts 19: 21,22       NKJV
21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
Acts 19: 21,22                      slt2000
21 Nachdem aber diese Dinge ausgerichtet waren, nahm sich Paulus im Geist vor, zuerst durch Mazedonien und Achaja zu ziehen und dann nach Jerusalem zu reisen, indem er sprach: Wenn ich dort gewesen bin, muß ich auch Rom sehen!
22 Und er sandte zwei seiner Gehilfen, Timotheus und Erastus, nach Mazedonien und hielt sich noch eine Zeitlang in [der Provinz] Asia auf.

v21… Paul purposed in the Spirit…. Guided by the Holy Spirit…. Paul planned his travels… He would travel through Macedonia and Achaia…. then to Jerusalem…. then to Rome….. The Lord willing…
Luke doesn't mention it here…. but we know that one reason why Paul wanted to go through Macedonia and Achaia….. and then to go to Jerusalem…. was to collect and deliver money….  he had been collecting from other churches to help out the church in Jerusalem….Romans 15:25-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4…
v22a… So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus…. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus   to Macedonia….. while he stayed in Ephesus……

v22b… Who ministered to him…. Notice the job of Timothy and Erastus. They ministered to Paul; they were truly assistants to the apostle, helping Paul to maximize his ministry.
Acts 19: 23-28                   NKJV
23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.
24 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.
26 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. 27 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.”
28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Acts 19: 23-28                   slt 2000
23 Aber um jene Zeit entstand ein nicht unbedeutender Aufruhr um des Weges willen.
24 Denn ein gewisser Mann namens Demetrius, ein Silberschmied, verfertigte silberne Tempel der Diana2 und verschaffte den Künstlern beträchtlichen Gewinn.
25 Diese versammelte er samt den Arbeitern desselben Faches und sprach: Ihr Männer, ihr wißt, daß von diesem Gewerbe unser Wohlstand kommt.
26 Und ihr seht und hört, daß dieser Paulus nicht allein in Ephesus, sondern fast in ganz Asia eine große Menge überredet und umgestimmt hat, indem er sagt, daß es keine Götter gebe, die mit Händen gemacht werden.
27 Aber es besteht nicht nur die Gefahr, daß dieses unser Geschäft in Verruf kommt, sondern auch, daß der Tempel der großen Göttin Diana für nichts geachtet und zuletzt auch ihre Majestät gestürzt wird, die doch ganz Asia und der Erdkreis verehrt!
28 Als sie das hörten, wurden sie voll Zorn und schrieen: Groß ist die Diana der Epheser!
v26… This Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands…. The opposition of Demetrius and the other idol makers is a great compliment to the effectiveness of Paul's work in the region…. Paul was not on a "let's close down the temple of Diana" campaign,…. he was just doing the Lord's work….. As people came to Jesus…. they naturally stopped worshipping Diana and buying shrines associated with the temple…
 In verse 37…. the city clerk specifically says that Paul had not blasphemed the goddess Diana……. Paul proclaimed Jesus…. He did not waste his time saying bad things about Diana…. He preached Jesus to them…

v27a…. 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…. This tremendous temple to Diana (also known as Artemis) in Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world…..   It was not discovered until 1869…. its main altar was unearthed in 1965…..
v27b… Whom all Asia and the world worship… The temple of Diana in Ephesus was indeed famous around the world; and trinkets and idols from it must have been a substantial trade, no matter how immoral the worship of the sex-goddess was.


v29…
Acts 19: 29-34                        NKJV
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. 30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
Acts 19: 29-34                                  slt 2000
29 Und die ganze Stadt kam in Verwirrung, und sie stürmten einmütig ins Theater und zerrten die Mazedonier Gajus und Aristarchus, die Reisegefährten des Paulus, mit sich.
30 Als aber Paulus unter die Volksmenge gehen wollte, ließen es ihm die Jünger nicht zu.
31 Auch etliche der Asiarchen3, die ihm wohlgesonnen waren, sandten zu ihm und baten ihn, sich nicht ins Theater zu begeben.
32 [Hier] schrie nun alles durcheinander; denn die Versammlung war in der größten Verwirrung, und die Mehrzahl wußte nicht, aus welchem Grund sie zusammengekommen waren.
33 Da zogen sie aus der Volksmenge den Alexander hervor, da die Juden ihn vorschoben. Und Alexander gab mit der Hand ein Zeichen und wollte sich vor dem Volk verantworten.
34 Als sie aber vernahmen, daß er ein Jude sei, schrieen sie alle wie aus einem Mund etwa zwei Stunden lang: Groß ist die Diana der Epheser!
v29… The whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord…. Chaos and anger grabbed hold of the crowd and the entire city was rapidly getting out of hand…..

v33… They drew Alexander out of the multitude…., the Jews putting him forward…. Alexander wanted to make sure that the mob knew that the Jews did not approve of Paul either…. but he accomplished nothing before the angry crowd…...

v34… The chant Great Diana of the Ephesians!.... must have sent a chill up the spines of the Christians….  
The noise must have been deafening….. The acoustics of the theater are excellent….
Acts 19: 35-41                         NKJV  
35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 19: 35-41                           slt 2000
35 Da beruhigte der Stadtschreiber4 die Menge und sprach: Ihr Männer von Ephesus, wo ist denn ein Mensch, der nicht wüßte, daß die Stadt Ephesus die Tempelpflegerin der großen Göttin Diana und des vom Himmel gefallenen [Bildes] ist?
36 Da nun dies unwidersprechlich ist, so solltet ihr euch ruhig verhalten und nichts Übereiltes tun.
37 Denn ihr habt diese Männer hergeführt, die weder Tempelräuber sind, noch eure Göttin gelästert haben.
38 Wenn aber Demetrius und die Künstler, die mit ihm sind, gegen jemand eine Klage haben, so werden Gerichtstage gehalten, und es sind Statthalter da; sie mögen einander verklagen!
39 Habt ihr aber ein Begehren wegen anderer Angelegenheiten, so wird es in der gesetzlichen Versammlung5 erledigt werden.
40 Denn wir stehen in Gefahr, daß wir wegen des heutigen Tages des Aufruhrs angeklagt werden, weil kein Grund vorliegt, womit wir diese Zusammenrottung entschuldigen könnten!
41 Und als er das gesagt hatte, entließ er die Versammlung.
v36… Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly…. The city clerk speaks wise words… Luke is trying to show that rational people have nothing to fear in Christianity….
The city clerk was actually what we would consider the "mayor" of the city…..
The hatred and anger at the believers was irrational and crazy…. They were trying to stop the work of God in their city….. Just like today…. Turn with me to 2 tim…3…v1…
2 Timothy 3:1- 5                     NKJV  
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3:1- 5                        slt 2000
1 Das aber sollst du wissen, daß in den letzten Tagen schlimme Zeiten eintreten werden.
2 Denn die Menschen werden sich selbst lieben1, geldgierig sein, prahlerisch, überheblich, Lästerer, den Eltern ungehorsam, undankbar, unheilig,
3 lieblos, unversöhnlich, verleumderisch, unbeherrscht, gewalttätig, dem Guten feind,
4 Verräter, leichtsinnig, aufgeblasen; sie lieben das Vergnügen mehr als Gott;
5 dabei haben sie den äußeren Schein von Gottesfurcht2, deren Kraft aber verleugnen sie. Von solchen wende dich ab!


41… He dismissed the assembly… God used the city clerk to calm the mob….   God had preserved His work, and His people, again…..
The word “Assembly” in Acts 19:41 is the Greek word ekklesia….. It was a   term used to describe any gathering or association of people….. It is also the same word used that is often translated "church…..

Communion
Warning! Danger!  Search your hearts….
1 Corinthians 11: 27-32                           NKJV
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11: 27-32   slt 2000
27 Wer also unwürdig dieses Brot ißt oder den Kelch des Herrn trinkt, der ist schuldig am Leib und Blut des Herrn.
28 Der Mensch prüfe aber sich selbst, und so soll er von dem Brot essen und aus dem Kelch trinken;
29 denn wer unwürdig ißt und trinkt, der ißt und trinkt sich selbst ein Gericht, weil er den Leib des Herrn nicht unterscheidet.
30 Deshalb sind unter euch viele Schwache und Kranke, und eine beträchtliche Zahl sind entschlafen.
31 Denn wenn wir uns selbst richteten, würden wir nicht gerichtet werden;
32 wenn wir aber gerichtet werden, so werden wir vom Herrn gezüchtigt, damit wir nicht samt der Welt verurteilt werden.

Every time that we take communion…. We take in our hands the proof that God loves us….. We see hIs unfailing love in Jesus sacrifice for our sins….. Jesus purchased our redemption…

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26                      NKJV
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26                                 slt 2000
23 Denn ich habe von dem Herrn empfangen, was ich auch euch überliefert habe, nämlich daß der Herr Jesus in der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, Brot nahm,
24 und dankte, es brach und sprach: Nehmt, eßt! Das ist mein Leib, der für euch gebrochen wird; dies tut zu meinem Gedächtnis!
25 Desgleichen auch den Kelch, nach dem Mahl, indem er sprach: Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund in meinem Blut; dies tut, so oft ihr ihn trinkt, zu meinem Gedächtnis!
26 Denn so oft ihr dieses Brot eßt und diesen Kelch trinkt, verkündigt ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er kommt.
The Lord´s Supper has a past reference to The Passover and of course….. Jesus´ sacrificial death on the cross….
It has a present reference to the fact that we belong to one another here in the Body of Christ… It also has a future reference…. Because it points us to our future Gathering together at the end of time… He will return for us….. We will be with the Lord forever…..  We will celebrate with Him….
Let´s pray….

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Todays Sermon



2015.04.19                          Acts 19: 1-10
         Paul proclaims the Gospel in Ephesus
We are studying the birth of the church in the book of Acts…. Just 2 weeks ago we celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ…. The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus has changed everything in history….. It is the fulfillment of everything that God promised…. Already in the Garden of Eden…. The LORD God promised to redeem His people from their sin and rebellion…. In Exodus 6…. God promised to deliver and redeem His people…. He promised a Savior…. His name is Jesus…. When Christianity was established…. We see many people coming to Jesus Christ from Judaism….. But many Jewish believers found it very difficult to make the transition… Religion and tradition are hard to shake off….And so there were people stuck in the middle of transition from the Old covenant´s emphasis on the law… to God´s Long promised new covenant of Grace…. We see this all through the book of Acts…. And we see even Paul in transition from being a Pharisee who was proud and very religious…… To being radically saved on his way to persecute Christians…. Paul was redeemed and transformed…. He became the great champion of Salvation by grace through faith….
And then in Acts 18 we saw Apollos…. Acts 18 v24 to 28…… Apollos was a God fearer….. He was in transition…. He was a disciple of John the Baptist….   He had believed that Jesus was that Messiah….. but He didn't fully understand the cross…..  Or the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead….. He was an Old Testament saint who only knew that Jesus was the Messiah and didn't know all that Jesus had done……
And we come today in our study to a group of 12 men who also are in transition…. Now remember that Judaism totally filled these people's lives…..  Even though the Scriptures had always pointed to salvation by grace through faith….. Judaism was full of rules and religious activity…..
Sadly they did not really understand God´s Chesed….. His unfailing love and mercy..…   turn with me to Acts 19…v1…
Acts 19: 1- 5                        NKJV  
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19: 1- 5                           slt 2000
1 Es geschah aber, während Apollos in Korinth war, daß Paulus, nachdem er die höhergelegenen Gebiete durchzogen hatte, nach Ephesus kam. Und als er einige Jünger fand,
2 sprach er zu ihnen: Habt ihr den Heiligen Geist empfangen, als ihr gläubig wurdet? Sie aber antworteten ihm: Wir haben nicht einmal gehört, daß der Heilige Geist da ist!
3 Und er sprach zu ihnen: Worauf seid ihr denn getauft worden? Sie aber erwiderten: Auf die Taufe des Johannes.
4 Da sprach Paulus: Johannes hat mit einer Taufe der Buße getauft und dem Volk gesagt, daß sie an den glauben sollten, der nach ihm kommt, das heißt an den Christus Jesus.
5 Als sie das hörten, ließen sie sich taufen auf den Namen des Herrn Jesus.

These men are also Old Testament Saints….. They were followers of John the Baptist…. They had been confronted with their sin…. And they had been confronted with their religious pride and rebellion against God…..
They saw their need and repented of their sins from their heart…. They really were sorry for their sin and rebellion..
Deciding to repent and be baptized by John was a radical commitment to truth….. They were renouncing the religious privilege that they might claim as sons of Abraham…. They were admitting the fact that they could never really obey the law of God from their hearts….. They were admitting their desperate need for a new heart….. turn to Ezekiel 36….v25…
Ezekiel 36: 25-27                          NLT
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Ezekiel 36: 25-27                          Neues Leben
25 Dann gieße ich reines Wasser über euch aus, und ihr werdet rein sein. Von allen euren Unreinheiten und von allen euren Götzen werde ich euch reinigen.
26 Und ich werde euch ein neues Herz geben und euch einen neuen Geist schenken. Ich werde das Herz aus Stein aus eurem Körper nehmen und euch ein Herz aus Fleisch geben.
27 Und ich werde euch meinen Geist geben, damit ihr nach meinem Gesetz lebt und meine Gebote bewahrt und euch danach richtet.
Here in these verses and several other OT texts…  we see God´s promised new covenant…. His unfailing love causes Him to act to transform a wicked and rebellious people…..  Look at God´s Chesed in action here….
v25…. I will sprinkle clean water upon you….
Clean water for cleansing…. This they understood very well…. God is saying…. Yes you are my people… But you are filthy in sin… You are not better than the Gentiles….. Even though they were sons of Abraham…  They were also dirty and full of sin and rebellion…. They could not cleanse themselves…. They could not really love the Lord with all of their heart and soul and strength….. No way….. So God says…. I myself will wash you and you will be clean…. It gets better….v26…
v26a… I will give you a new heart… v26b… I will put a new spirit within you…
Here is the promise of the new birth….. This is what Jesus meant when He said to Nicodemus….. You must be born again…. John 3…v5…
Many O.T. scholars point  to Ezekiel 36 as a clear summary of the New Birth as seen in the New Covenant….
This is from the Masters Seminary Journal page 255…
Back to Acts 19… Look at verse 1….
Acts 19: 1- 5                        NKJV  
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? ”So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19: 1- 5                           slt 2000
1 Es geschah aber, während Apollos in Korinth war, daß Paulus, nachdem er die höhergelegenen Gebiete durchzogen hatte, nach Ephesus kam. Und als er einige Jünger fand,
2 sprach er zu ihnen: Habt ihr den Heiligen Geist empfangen, als ihr gläubig wurdet? Sie aber antworteten ihm: Wir haben nicht einmal gehört, daß der Heilige Geist da ist!
3 Und er sprach zu ihnen: Worauf seid ihr denn getauft worden? Sie aber erwiderten: Auf die Taufe des Johannes.
4 Da sprach Paulus: Johannes hat mit einer Taufe der Buße getauft und dem Volk gesagt, daß sie an den glauben sollten, der nach ihm kommt, das heißt an den Christus Jesus.
5 Als sie das hörten, ließen sie sich taufen auf den Namen des Herrn Jesus.
v1… And finding certain disciples."
Because of verse 7… We know that there were 12 of them… Paul  meets 12 men….. They are introduced to him as disciples…. Now when we look at the word disciple….. it's easy to think… OK these are Christians… These folks show up in a meeting of believers and Paul says ok…. They are already disciples…. But Paul realized quickly that there was something missing in these 12….. Remember the word disciple means learner…..  It doesn´t automatically mean Christian…. V2… Paul  says…
v2-5… Paul says The Holy Spirit is missing… aha!….. These are disciples of John the Baptist…
v2a… Have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed…. 2a sprach er zu ihnen: Habt ihr den Heiligen Geist empfangen, als ihr gläubig wurdet
Here the Greek is very clear…. It says having believed…. The English  word “when” is a perfect translation….
They say what?... The Holy Spirit?... Schoen?...
When Paul said, "Did you receive the Spirit when you believed?" Remember “when you believed” is the literal Greek…..  what is he saying? He's saying that coming to faith in the Lord Jesus is the key….. Now look what happens…..  
v2b… They knew about the promise of the Holy Spirit…. But not that it had already occurred…. And they say, hey, we haven’t even heard of the Holy Spirit was given….. The German is better here… Wir haben nicht einmal gehört, daß der Heilige Geist da ist!  
These 12 disciples did not know that the Holy Spirit had been given….. They knew He had been promised…… Every Old Testament saint was promised His Spirit….. We read that in Ezekiel 36… And John said the Holy Spirit would come…..
v3….. He says, "Unto what then were you baptized?" Notice  what Paul did not do…..  He did not start to teach them about a second work of grace….
He did not start to teach them the doctrine of the Holy Spirit…..   Look at verses 4 and 5….. Paul points to the Lord Jesus…..  Isn't it interesting  that when they didn't know about the Holy Spirit…..  He taught them about the Lord Jesus Christ….. Why?
Because when someone comes to faith in Christ… the Holy Spirit was automatically given as a gift….
In verse 4 Paul says to them…  John the baptizer taught that you should believe on Him who should come after him…… that is our Messiah Jesus….  You see even though they were hanging around Christians…. they didn't even know Jesus the Messiah yet… 
Paul says look….. John was getting you ready for Jesus….. When they heard this….. they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus….. I think it is very clear from the passage that they were not Christians….. They were Old Testament Saints….. believers in God….. followers of John the Baptist who was the last of the Old Testament prophets…..
They had repented of their sins and become genuine God fearers…. They were ready….
v5… And when they heard about Jesus they immediately believed and were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit… 
These men were not Christians at all…..   If they were…. They would have already known the Lord Jesus as Savior…. and received the Holy Spirit when they believed….
If somebody says to me do you believe that every Christian has the Holy Spirit? Yes… Absolutely… turn with me to  Romans 8:9….
Romans 8:9                              NKJV   slt 2000
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
9 Ihr aber seid nicht im Fleisch, sondern im Geist, wenn wirklich Gottes Geist in euch wohnt; wer aber den Geist des Christus nicht hat, der ist nicht sein.
v9… if anyone does not have the Spirit…
If you don't have the Holy Spirit… you're not a Christian…...
There can be no gap between your salvation and the gift of the Spirit….. If you don't have the Holy Spirit….. you don't belong to Jesus……  
Turn to …  John 7:37….
John 7: 37-39                            NKJV     
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7: 37-39                       slt 2000
37 Aber am letzten, dem großen Tag des Festes stand Jesus auf, rief und sprach: Wenn jemand dürstet, der komme zu mir und trinke!
38 Wer an mich glaubt, wie die Schrift gesagt hat, aus seinem Leib werden Ströme lebendigen Wassers fließen.
39 Das sagte er aber von dem Geist, den die empfangen sollten, welche an ihn glauben; denn der Heilige Geist war noch nicht da, weil Jesus noch nicht verherrlicht war.  
v37-39…  he that Believeth on Me as the Scripture has said….   Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water….  Did you hear that?
Who receives the Holy Spirit?   All who believe….. look at verse 39…
v39…  the only reason the Spirit was not given yet was because Jesus was not yet glorified….. We  teach people about the Lord Jesus Christ….. And the Holy Spirit is granted to them as a gift when they believe…..
Paul uses the question about The Holy Spirit as a diagnostic tool…. Then when it is clear that they don´t yet know the Lord Jesus… He gives them the gospel….   
 Now notice what happened when the Holy Spirit came Acts 19… v6…
Acts 19: 6,7                     NKJV   slt 2000
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
6 Und als Paulus ihnen die Hände auflegte, kam der Heilige Geist auf sie, und sie redeten in Sprachen und weissagten. 7 Es waren aber im ganzen etwa zwölf Männer.
Some say there it is…. That's how it happens…. That´s the gift of the Holy Spirit…. That´s what should happen to everyone…. Tongues and prophesy…. But you know something?
That's the last time it ever happens in the New Testament…..   That's it….. There is not another recorded event of this type of thing…. It is impossible to build a doctrine on this incident…. Of course for these 12 and the church in Ephesus…. it was awesome proof of God´s good hand on the Apostle Paul…. It was Divine authentication of Paul´s teaching and ministry… That was very important in the early days of the church… Let´s continue in Acts19 reading now from v8…
Acts 19: 8- 10   NKJV   slt 2000
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19: 8-10                  slt 2000
8 Und er ging in die Synagoge und trat öffentlich auf, indem er drei Monate lang Gespräche führte und sie zu überzeugen versuchte von dem, was das Reich Gottes betrifft.
9 Da aber etliche sich verstockten und sich weigerten zu glauben, sondern den Weg vor der Menge verleumdeten, trennte er sich von ihnen und sonderte die Jünger ab und hielt täglich Lehrgespräche in der Schule eines gewissen Tyrannus.
10 Das geschah zwei Jahre lang, so daß alle, die in [der Provinz] Asia wohnten, das Wort des Herrn Jesus hörten, sowohl Juden als auch Griechen.
v8,9… He went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months…. Paul had an extended time of preaching in the synagogues… but finally the influence of those Jews who were rejecting the message made teaching there too difficult…. So he turned to teaching in the hall of a Gentile teacher named Tyrannus…. These might be the first “Christian church” meetings that were not in the Temple or in a synagogue….
v10… And this continued for two years… Paul carried this on for two more years…. His very effective teaching equipped the believers to do the work of the ministry… It was the believers themselves who got the word of God out to all who dwelt in Asia….
Notice that Paul did not start a school of prophesy…. He did not offer a course in miracles….. He made solid sold out to Jesus disciples……He did it by teaching the Word of God…. Do you remember our lesson from the resurrection Sunday sermon? There were 2 very important points to the resurrection encounter on the road to Emmaus….
                   The Road to Emmaus lessons
1. Jesus truly rose from the dead….. 
2. Scripture is alive…..
These men and women that were discipled in Ephesus…. They are the ones who proclaimed the Good News of the Gospel throughout Asia….
There was no way that Paul, by himself, could reach that region….. But he could help equip Christians to do the work of the ministry…. just as he described in Ephesians 4:11-12….. let´s turn there….
Ephesians 4:11- 16              NKJV   slt 2000
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11- 16                 slt 2000
11 Und Er hat etliche als Apostel gegeben, etliche als Propheten, etliche als Evangelisten, etliche als Hirten und Lehrer,
12 zur Zurüstung der Heiligen, für das Werk des Dienstes, für die Erbauung des Leibes des Christus,
13 bis wir alle zur Einheit des Glaubens und der Erkenntnis des Sohnes Gottes gelangen, zur vollkommenen Mannesreife, zum Maß der vollen Größe des Christus;
14 damit wir nicht mehr Unmündige seien, hin- und hergeworfen und umhergetrieben von jedem Wind der Lehre durch das betrügerische Spiel der Menschen, durch die Schlauheit, mit der sie zum Irrtum verführen,
15 sondern, wahrhaftig in der Liebe, heranwachsen in allen Stücken zu ihm hin, der das Haupt ist, der Christus.
16 Von ihm aus vollbringt der ganze Leib, zusammengefügt und verbunden durch alle Gelenke, die einander Handreichung tun nach dem Maß der Leistungsfähigkeit jedes einzelnen Gliedes, das Wachstum des Leibes zur Auferbauung seiner selbst in Liebe.
v11,12…. Pastors and teachers and elders are here in the body of Christ to equip you to do the work of the ministry…. To edify you….
v13… So that we all become perfect in Him…. Together we can represent the fullness of Christ…
v14… so that we will stop being spiritual children…. Deceived by every false teacher…
v15… But by speaking the truth in love…. We may grow up…
I want to read verses 15 and 16  from the NLT…

Ephesians 4:15               NLT   Neues Leben
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
15 Stattdessen lasst uns in Liebe an der Wahrheit festhalten und in jeder Hinsicht Christus ähnlicher werden, der das Haupt seines Leibes - der Gemeinde - ist. 16 Durch ihn wird der ganze Leib zu einer Einheit. Und jeder Teil erfüllt seine besondere Aufgabe und trägt zum Wachstum der anderen bei, sodass der ganze Leib gesund ist und wächst und von Liebe erfüllt ist.
I like the German here…
v15a… Let us in love … hold on to the truth… Remember Jesus´ prayer?…. He said to the Father … Thy Word is truth… The Word of God is the truth…. Hold on to it…. Application point Measure everything you hear by the Word of God….
v16b… then Christ makes the body fit together… so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love…
The building of the church starts with pastors and teachers etc… They use the Word of God to strengthen and equip the church to do the work of the ministry… That exactly what happened in Ephesus… That´s what continues to happen in the church… we help you to get ready… We give you the tools…. So that you can do the work of the ministry…
Close
Would you like to have a great Bible study quiet time? Look at all of the people who ministered to the Ephesians…. It is an awesome list  …. Apollos and Pricilla and Aquilla, Timothy and Paul…. And later the John the disciple that Jesus loved…. Lived and ministered in Ephesus….
Paul was in Ephesus longer than any other place…. The Lord wonderfully transformed Paul from a legalistic persecutor of Christians….. To a radical proclaimer of the Good news of the Gospel… He became the Apostle of the Grace of God to the Gentiles…. turn with me to Ephesians 2… v1…
Ephesians 2:1- 10                          NKJV   
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.


Ephesians 2:1- 10                             slt 2000
1 Auch ihr wart früher tot aufgrund eurer Sünden.
2 Ihr habt genauso in der Sünde gelebt wie der Rest der Welt, beherrscht von Satan, der im Machtbereich der Luft regiert. Er ist der Geist, der in den Herzen derer wirkt, die Gott nicht gehorchen wollen.
3 Wir alle haben früher so gelebt und uns von den Leidenschaften und Begierden unserer alten Natur beherrschen lassen. Wir wurden mit dieser Natur geboren und waren Gottes Zorn ausgeliefert wie alle anderen Menschen auch.
4 Doch Gott ist so barmherzig und liebte uns so sehr,
5 dass er uns, die wir durch unsere Sünden tot waren, mit Christus neues Leben schenkte, als er ihn von den Toten auferweckte. Nur durch die Gnade Gottes seid ihr gerettet worden!
6 Denn er hat uns zusammen mit Christus von den Toten auferweckt und wir gehören nun mit Jesus zu seinem himmlischen Reich.
7 So wird er für alle Zeiten an uns seine Güte und den Reichtum seiner Gnade sichtbar machen, die sich in allem zeigt, was er durch Christus Jesus für uns getan hat.
8 Weil Gott so gnädig ist, hat er euch durch den Glauben gerettet. Und das ist nicht euer eigenes Verdienst; es ist ein Geschenk Gottes.
9 Ihr werdet also nicht aufgrund eurer guten Taten gerettet, damit sich niemand etwas darauf einbilden kann.
10 Denn wir sind Gottes Schöpfung. Er hat uns in Christus Jesus neu geschaffen, damit wir zu guten Taten fähig sind, wie er es für unser Leben schon immer vorgesehen hat.
That´s God´s Chesed…. His mercy and grace poured out on our lives….. Even though we did not deserve it…
Remember this text from Acts19 began with some fans of God…. They showed up in a Christian meeting…. They were looking to know God better…. They knew that they need a new heart….. They knew that they need help…. They were in theright place…. Paul taught them about Jesus…. And Jesuis transformed them…. He gave them and new heart and He put His Spirit in them….. When He did…. Jesus fulfilled the promise of the Father….. A new Covenant…. Jesus´ life’s blood…. Poured out for us…
Romans 15….
Romans 15: 1-6                          NLT   Neues Leben
1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15: 1-6                          NLT   Neues Leben
1 Selbst wenn wir einen starken Glauben haben, dürfen wir uns nicht nach uns selbst richten, sondern müssen die Zweifel und Ängste Schwächerer ernst nehmen.
2 Wir sollen uns so verhalten, dass es dem andern hilft1 und er dadurch im Glauben ermutigt wird.
3 Denn auch Christus lebte nicht nur für sich selbst. In der Schrift heißt es: »Die Menschen, die dich beleidigen, beleidigen auch mich.«2
4 Dies wurde vor langer Zeit aufgeschrieben, damit wir daraus lernen. Es soll uns Hoffnung geben und ermutigen, sodass wir geduldig auf das warten, was Gott in der Schrift versprochen hat.
5 Gott, der diese Geduld und Ermutigung schenkt, soll euch helfen, eins zu sein und in Frieden miteinander zu leben. Geht miteinander so um,3 wie es Christus vorgelebt hat.
6 Dann könnt ihr gemeinsam mit einer Stimme Gott, den Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, loben und ehren.
Let's pray.