Good Tuesday April fourteenth as we learn God’s will, by studying from His Holy Word.
Strongholds-
The people in Ephesus after witnessing the seven sons of Sceva get beaten down and run through the streets without their clothes by the demon that was possessing a man, fear fell upon all who practiced black magic and they gathered and burned in a fire all that they used in their businesses. Understand, today there is still a huge market for people making large sums of money from such businesses, but on this day after witnessing what happened to these ghost busters without the Lord, many repented and gave their lives to the Lord. Let’s read together from Acts 19:21-27 “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.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time. 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. 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.” Paul wants to go to Jerusalem, and it is believed that Paul wants to take some of the offerings brought to him by Timothy and Silas to Jerusalem which was in need of finances. Acts 24:17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation” Luke says Paul remains in the area for a while but sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. Now two business men in Ephesus who did not turn to the Lord were upset because they were losing money and they stir up others to come against the way and its teachings. Before being given the followers of Christ as Christian’s, they were called the way. Leading the charge is a man named “Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana.” Historians record that many traveled to Asia to worship a shrine built for the goddess Diana, identified as the goddess of fertility. Apparently silversmiths such as Demetrius made a good living making small silver souvenirs, and when the demon beat down the seven sons for being fakes, business was lost and Demetrius was not going to lose his business. Demetrius focuses first on the economic losses for Ephesus, “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade” then turns to all those who have given their loyalty to the goddess Diana. “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.” All this he puts together when Paul said. “That they are not gods which are made with hands.”He appeals first to man’s greed then pride, two holds on mankind. Are you freed from greed and pride? Remnant
