19:1 Paul joins a group of disciples in Ephesus. These particular disciples still have a bit of growing to do in their faith for although John prepared them, they had not yet become familiar with who John prepared them for. This is important because Jesus taught humanity about our purpose, and a disciple particularly must know their purpose before their work can be effective.
19:2-3 Full, informed faith truly does travel on the wings of God. That is to say, when we really understand the passionate depth of the message, our purpose to promote and defend it is guided and enhanced by the creator of it, the creator of us.
19:4 Paul explains that John came to awaken us to renewal. John the Baptist taught us to remove the confusion and the greed from ourselves in order to make room for something new, something lovely: the love and wisdom of our spiritual creator. While these disciples had listened and been convinced by John, they still needed to have the spirit poured into them.
Our journey of self and spirit is no different; in order to be filled by something better, we must remove what formerly filled us. Sometimes this means creating new habits or making better decisions but it always means making a change in a place where we wish to make improvements. Once you are ready to re-establish yourself in purpose, you must ensure you're filled by the right stuff (otherwise something else, or the same, will flow back in and thwart our progress).
19:5-7 Paul explained to them "Part 2" of their spiritual journey and they absorbed it; John had prepared them well and Peter's ministry from God solidified them in their purpose. When we make a spiritually-compassionate, impassioned commitment, God supplies us with the tools and the opportunities to be successful in our purpose: bringing joy and life and wisdom.
19:8 Therefore, these disciples of Ephesus were equipped to speak boldly of a truth they held in their hearts and minds, the presence and guidance of our creator.
19:9-10 For 2 years Paul remained with these disciples to support their purpose. God always sends us a helper, a comforter in both the times of our adversity and in our times of joy. Paul was divinely placed where he could do the most good, and that is essentially our purpose: to be a vessel, a tunnel through which goodness came come into the world.
Not everyone agrees with what we believe and those who disagree with us are more likely to be present and vocal when we oppose them. Paul's presence and wisdom (gifts given by God) enabled these disciples to learn to not grow discouraged by the opposition. If you are discouraged by something, someone or some fear in your life, know your God well enough to enlist His help. He's standing, ready and prepared but awaits your honest, faithful invitation and trust.
19:11-12 The depth and passion of Paul's faith enabled him to receive the depth and passion of God's gifts and guidance. Paul's faith gave him the opportunities to heal and help so many that people were even convinced that his clothing was divine.
We learned previously that "to whom much is given, much is expected" Luke 12:48, but that responsibility is actually a privilege God's children are honored to receive. The more you're passionate about doing in the name of compassion, the more capability and opportunity God will supply* you with.
* "God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul." Be the vessel through which His miracles can come and be implemented into the world and the lives of others.
Your faith enables you to see the grander picture. Your faith gives you the compassion and the perception with which to work your way through the earth and humanity. From your elevated vantage point, you have so much opportunity to bring light to the places of darkness. Your faith gives you the strength, courage and wisdom to guide and support and inspire. The more you believe God is capable, the more capable you become.
19:13-14 Some of the disciples adversaries observed the works through by God Paul was doing and they wanted the talent for themselves. Yet, they did not want the gift in order to help people. They wanted the talent in order to charge people and gain their reverence (selfish and greedy).
Not understand that faith takes place in our spirits, minds and hearts, and must be honest, passionate and selfish, they try to copy Paul.
19:15-16 Essentially the metaphor here is: an oppressor, an illness, however you want to think of it, laughs at the attempts of others to dispel it. Only God has the ability and authority to diminish them. Even Paul was not doing the healing; Paul was a vessel through which God could work in the world.
Not understand that faith takes place in our spirits, minds and hearts, and must be honest, passionate and selfish, they try to copy Paul.
19:15-16 Essentially the metaphor here is: an oppressor, an illness, however you want to think of it, laughs at the attempts of others to dispel it. Only God has the ability and authority to diminish them. Even Paul was not doing the healing; Paul was a vessel through which God could work in the world.
19:17-19 When people heard about this selfish (and failed) attempt, it serves as a testimony for many to believe in God, through Paul. They witnessed that Paul's abilities truly were from our divine creator. They realized (these were the skeptics and non-believers) that Paul was not performing a talent but was actually working and living with a gift from God. No magic or trickery. Many abandoned their mythology and traded it for truth, for God's wisdom and philosophy of life.
19:20 "The Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed" indeed God's wisdom and love always grows and prevails.
19:21-22 Paul continues to move throughout the regions of the world, "purposed in the Spirit."Paul did not make a single move or decision that was not directly interwoven with God's movement and decisions. Paul was productive and purposeful. That is our mission here on earth: be productive in good and purposeful in spirit. We are each contributors; decide what you wish to contribute.
19:23-27 Paul is traveling the regions of the world and teaching people about our One, True creator. Remember specifically The Acts of the Apostles 17; Paul explains that statues and caricatures are inanimate, meaningless figures. Well, Paul's teaching is awakening people to the truth of that and therefore, the businessmen who make those statues and figurines, are losing business and therefore... they are losing money. Nothing angers the greedy more.
19:28-34 People were outraged and again, the disciples faced their oppressors head on. The businessmen had stirred up the people who believed in the "goddess" they make money turning into figurines; not because they were faithful to it but because they were using the people's ignorance and fear to get their business back.
19:35-41 God had promised Paul that He would ensure his path was protected and this instance, God's help comes in the form of the city clerk. The city clerk is able to calm the angered crowd. He reminds the crowd that their accusations are baseless, not able to be defended in any formal way (and therefore they are wasting their time). Their accusations against the disciples were stirred up by the businessmen, not by any concrete fact or crime.
God's help is complete, often subtle, and always effective. He orchestrates happiness and success in our lives if we work with Him and trust His Hands in our lives.
19:28-34 People were outraged and again, the disciples faced their oppressors head on. The businessmen had stirred up the people who believed in the "goddess" they make money turning into figurines; not because they were faithful to it but because they were using the people's ignorance and fear to get their business back.
19:35-41 God had promised Paul that He would ensure his path was protected and this instance, God's help comes in the form of the city clerk. The city clerk is able to calm the angered crowd. He reminds the crowd that their accusations are baseless, not able to be defended in any formal way (and therefore they are wasting their time). Their accusations against the disciples were stirred up by the businessmen, not by any concrete fact or crime.
God's help is complete, often subtle, and always effective. He orchestrates happiness and success in our lives if we work with Him and trust His Hands in our lives.
