HOW THE GOSPEL CAME TO EPHESUS

1. The gospel came to Ephesus which was in DEEP DARK DEPRAVITY: Acts 19:13, 19 The city had much demonic activity going on. Magic arts were practiced there Acts 19:19, and even some of the Jewish people practiced exorcism. The land was given to idolatry, worshipping Artemis (Diana). The temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The city boasted a majestic temple, but was dark in sin. It was to this city that Priscilla and Aquilla came with the gospel of grace. Why go to a place like this? Yet the Lord was guiding them in all this. We put sins in categories sometimes. We think that some parts of Auckland are very respectable and that they are not as sinful as people in other parts of the city. There is none righteous, no not one, the Bible says, and everyone alike needs the gospel. Like in Ephesus, the gospel of Jesus came to some of the most difficult places in the world. Before Patrick came to Ireland as a slave first and then again as an evangelist, Ireland was full of idolatry and wickedness. But when the gospel came, thousands threw away their idols and followed Jesus. In the book of Revelation, the first church mentioned is the church in Ephesus. It is easy to forget how far removed Ephesus was from God, before the gospel came to it.  |||||

2. The gospel came to Ephesus, bringing the DAWNING OF A NEW DAY: Hunting for deer in the southern Alps, we would climb during the day and camp on the side of the mountain. Then in the morning we would have breakfast, watching the sun rise over the horizon. As the sun came, the darkness would slowly give way to the sunlight that filled the valleys and the mountain tops. It was very beautiful and majestic. What a difference the sun makes each morning to the mountainside! The gospel that Paul and his friends brought to this dark city of Ephesus brought light. It changed the hearts of sinful people in the city. Many came confessing their sins and many who practiced magic arts burned their books. The word of God prevailed mightily. They came believing and burned their old books in the sight of all the people. This was the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. Paul was absolutely convinced of the power of the gospel, the mighty power of God to bring about new life. That is why Paul said: I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to every one who believes. Yesterday we went to share the gospel in the market. We saw people going about and we knew that they needed Christ, because there is salvation in no other name. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work bringing salvation to the souls of men.  |||||

3. The gospel came to Ephesus causing a DEEP DIVISION: Everytime the gospel is brought to a place, the enemy is there like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. So here too in Ephesus, we see great opposition. In Acts 19:28 we see the Ephesians in great rage crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” As a result there was a great riot. What caused this riot? Were Paul and his friends responsible? The people were angry because the lives of men and women were being transformed, and Demetrius had cautioned them that their livelihoods were at stake. They had heard that Paul was going about from city to city persuading people that gods made with hands are not gods. The people were angry because of the gospel of the Lord Jesus. The truth of the gospel is offensive the world, because this gospel is exclusive. If you say that all gods and religions lead to God, then people do not mind. But if you say that Jesus alone is God, then they get angry. But the Bible is clear that there is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12). Jesus said: I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved (John 10:9), “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11), and I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John14:6). In Heb 10:12 we read that Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins. In 1 Tim 2:5, we read: For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. There is no doubt at all that Christianity is exclusive. This is why when the Ephesians saw that so many who originally loved Diana and her temple, now believed in Jesus and burned their books, they got very angry. In Matt 10:34-39, we read that Jesus foretold that this is what would happen. He had clearly said that he had not come to bring peace by a sword.  |||||

The Ephesian church came into existence by the fearless proclamation of the gospel of Jesus. South City’s mission is also to preach Jesus. The gospel will be offensive to many, and this cannot be helped. As someone said, ‘Some will be glad, some will be sad, and some will be mad.’ Is it not wonderful to see how so many of the sinful people in Ephesus were liberated, set free. We have the same gospel, and we recognise that this gospel has lost none of its ancient power.