In Acts 19=
:23-41,
an Ephesians’ silversmith named Demetrius became very angry at Paul because=
of
him teaching the people about the gospel of Christ. Let us take note as to =
what
the silversmith said concerning their man-made human traditions of worshipp=
ing
the idol called “Great Artemis of the Ephesians”. His main focus was on the fact that the
teaching of Paul about the gospel of Christ was making sales drop in his tr=
ade and
business of selling miniature statues of their goddess Artemis. Saying, “we
receive a good income from this business” (verse 25).
See the full story in Acts 19:23-41, below in verse twenty-three the phrase “the Way” refers to the gospel of
Christ Jesus when the teachings of Christ began with the disciples.
·<=
span
style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> =
Acts
19:23-32 (NIV)… 23 About that time there arose a
great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, w=
ho
made silver shrines of Artemis, br=
ought
in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them toget=
her,
along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this
business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of peop=
le
here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that
man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that o=
ur
trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess
Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped
throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty." 28 When they
heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of=
the
Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people
seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, a=
nd rushed as one man into the theate=
r. 30
Paul wanted to appear before t=
he
crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the
officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him =
not
to venture into the theater. 32 The
assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. =
Most of the people did not even know =
why
they were there.
As you can see from
these verses the only reason Demetrius was concerned about Paul’s teachings
(which really was the teachings of Christ), he was losing money from making=
and
selling idols. As Demetrius puts it in danger of losing his trade (today, he
would say business). This brings to mind the merchants of today selling tre=
es,
lights, miniature statues, painted eggs, candied bunnies, chocolates, and t=
he
many other material things to make financial rewards from those who believe=
in
such things in their worship of the invisible God in heaven who is Spirit. =
The people of Ephesus
were caught up in the cares of the world concerning the man-made traditions=
in
worshipping this Artemis, which is not a god. Just as the people today are
caught up in the cares of this world today, saying they need palm leaves and
evergreen trees to worship the Holy Father in heaven. And just as the peopl=
e of
Ephesus were confused and did not know why they were in the theater, the pe=
ople
of today are confused and do know why they worship the God of spirits in su=
ch
manner. For the Spirit says in verse thirty-two, “The assembly was in confus=
ion…
Most of the people did not even know why they were there” (Acts 19:32 N=
IV).
Do you know why you are here?
Yes, this whole scene
was created by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen because they were losing
business, losing that “good income” from selling ido=
ls and
goods for worship. They were neither worried nor concerned about this so-ca=
lled
goddess of Artemis, their only concern was the income brought in by the idol
making business. This story should bring to mind other man-made religious h=
olidays
that brings in “no little business” from those who are enslaved by the bas=
ic
principles of this world, rushing each season to purchase the goods and
services of these merchants to use in their religious celebrations.
Now, these religious
followers of today having been led astray by these man-made traditions, the
followers of such things will react with angry towards anyone teaching that
these things ought not been done in the name of the One True God in heaven =
for
He is Spirit. The followers of these basic principles of this world put fore
strong resistance to stopping such behavior saying such things are necessary
for their children. Again, it is said by the Spirit, “children are their oppress=
ors”
(Isa. 3:12 RSV).
Let us recall our fi=
rst
love with Christ our Lord and Savior because God loved us first He called u=
s to
His Son, Jesus that we should worship Him without idols and religious symbo=
ls
of this world according to the principles of this world. For it is written:=
Today, the Spirit sp=
eaks
to us as the spiritual descendants of those who heeded Paul’s teaching and =
put
off using these man-made idols and symbols in their religious ceremonies. Y=
et,
today some have returned to these idols and symbols of religious celebratio=
ns.
That we should heed the voice of the Spirit to the Church in Ephesus saying=
, “I have
this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Rememb=
er
then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first”
(Rev. 2:4 RSV).
For Christ Jesus say=
s, “the
hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Fath=
er
in Spirit and Truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is Spiri=
t,
and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth” (John 4:23-=
24
RSV). And as such true follower, we as followers of Christ Jesus must s=
eek
those things of the Spirit and above speak of those things that are from ab=
ove
which is Truth. We can no longer explain spiritual things with the earthly
things such as palm leaves and evergreen trees nor with chocolate bunnies. =
Yes,
God is Spirit, and He seeks those who are willing to worship Him in Spirit =
and
Truth.
Therefore, I exhort =
you
as a true follower of Christ Jesus’ Way to put off observing these man-made
religious traditions which have no power to give you salvation. These thing=
s may
give you a form of godliness, yet these things lack any spiritual truth in =
them
and these things deny the power of the Spirit of God to change the hearts of
men. For the Spirit of Christ searches all things, an=
d “those
who live in accordance with the S=
pirit
have their minds set on what the =
Spirit
desires” (Romans 8:5 NIV).=
Amen.
Praise God.
·
Colossians 2:8-10 (NIV)… 8
See =
to it
that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which
depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather th=
an
on Christ. 9 For in Christ all =
the
fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been =
given
fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Let us put Aside the Deeds =
of
Darkness
Let us love one another as God has give=
n us
His love, as it is written, He first loved us. And “do not love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not =
in
him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 Jo=
hn
2:15-16 RSV).
In Christ Love,
Evangelist Ron Davis