Paul Caused Religious Disharmony In Ephesus

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:
"Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't really gods at all. And he's done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis - this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world - will be robbed of her great prestige!"
At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn't let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.
Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn't even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:23-33 NLT)

Romans were polytheists and polytheists are very religiously tolerant. They would had gladly added Jesus to their pantheon of gods. But the Christians, being monotheists, are very religiously intolerant. Paul refused to accept the Roman and Greek gods as gods. There were great religious disruption in those days. I wondered what would had happened if Paul were to be religiously tolerant. What would the world today be like without Christianity's disruptive influence?

What Can A Dying Man Do?

As long as you have life, you can repent and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. Only the dead are without hope.

"No one is so bad that he cannot be saved, and no one is so good that he need not be saved. All who are saved will be saved by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ." - Adrian Rogers

Some think they are too wicked to be saved. They may be murderers or rapists, but as long as they have life, they can repent and turn to Jesus for their salvation.

Others think they are good enough to save themselves. They don't murder or rape. They don't cheat people of money. They even do charity. Their friends think they are good and nice people. But they did not stop to consider what is God's KPI. Some may even think that He does not exist.

Certain tasks are the exclusive work of God. Salvation is one of them. No one can save themselves. Only God can save because only God can forgive sins. Those who think they can save themselves are already committing blasphemy.

"Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7 ESV)

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB)

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31 ESV)

My Ex-boss Passed Away

My ex-boss passed away this evening at the age of 73.

I visited him in the afternoon and told him that there are many religions but only two methods of salvation - either you can save yourself or you cannot.

If you think you can save yourself, then there are many religions to choose from, each augmenting good behavior with various additional requirement like fasting for certain periods, going vegetarian, abstain from certain food or habits, go pilgrimage etc.

If you think you cannot be saved, then there is only one choice - Jesus. He is the only Savior that saves to the uttermost.

No one is so bad that he cannot be saved. No one is so good that he does not need to be saved.

I told him whatever happened, remember to trust Jesus as the only one who saves. If I passed on, I hope to see him.

He kept shaking his head and I could not make out whether he understood or not since he could not speak.

All Can Be Saved

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Good news!
No one is so bad that he cannot be saved. No one is so good that he does not need to be saved.

Listen to "Hebrew 11:31 - the story of Rahab, a harlot whose life was radically, dramatically & eternally changed by faith" by Adrian Rogers.

Nature forms us, sin deforms us, school informs us, prison reforms us, world conforms us and Jesus transforms us.

Four things that God did to transform us:

1. Confronting power of the providence of God;
2. Convicting power of the Spirit of God;
3. Confirming power of the Word of God;
4. Cleanse by the grace of God.

Authentication Of The Messiah By God

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17 NIV)
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11 NIV)
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22 KJV)

"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. (Matthew 12:18 NIV)
And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." (Mark 9:7 ESV)
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" (Luke 9:35 ESV)

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7 KJV)
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1 ESV)

Jesus - Predicted And Fulfilled - 2

Jesus did not popped out of nowhere like many other founders of religions. He had a messenger to prepare His way. His arrival was prophesied long before it happened. That he would have a messenger and forerunner was also prophesied.

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (Psalm 40:7 KJV)

God On Probation

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you." (Genesis 28:20-22 ESV)

God, the creator of heavens and earth, has graciously allow men to put Him put on probation. This is a great condescension on His part.

If you are going on a long journey or facing unknown situations, why not trust Jesus, the true and living God? Step out in faith and trust God. What have you got to lose? You have all to gain and know God. There is no down side.

Did God answer Jacob? Yes and His answer was more than "bread to eat and clothing to wear" and returning home safely. He came home as a tribe.

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. (Genesis 32:9-10 KJV)

Lord, I thank you that I can trust you for all things. You have proven to be reliable, faithful and trustworthy. Nothing is too difficult for you.