Sermon Manuscript

[Video:  “Miracles - Bumper” - 0:30]

[Video:  “Dunkirk - Trailer” - 2:11]

It was one of the darkest days in human history.  In the spring of 1940, the Nazi German army was plowing through France despite the help of thousands of troops from different European countries.  At the time the United States had not yet become involved in the war.  But as the German troops continued to take more and more ground they finally surrounded and trapped most of the Allied forces at Dunkirk.  A small town in northern France.  400,000 troops were trapped.  Completely surrounded by Germany.  And at that moment it appeared as if the Allied forces had only two options.  Be destroyed or surrender.  But they had determined to fight and to never surrender.  So the British forces began to amass a group of hundreds of small sailing vessels owned by civilians and send them to help.  And as a result, 338,000 of the 400,000 soldiers were rescued.  

However, before the rescue efforts had been completed and at a time when it appeared as if everything was lost a British officer is believed to have sent a powerful message that was condensed into only three words:  “But.. if… not.”  But… if… not.  Three words which were meant to send a strong message of courage and bravery and hope to troops who desperately needed it.  They were words also meant to challenge the troops to stay confident and to stand firm no matter what as the Nazi airplanes brought one attack after another.  And they provided just a glimmer of hope on one of the darkest days in human history.

Can you think of a time in your life when you experienced the same?  A day in which the odds were completely stacked against you?  A day in which if something had gone wrong you would have run into a major problem and your life would have never been the same?  Maybe it was a car crash in which you narrowly escaped?  Or maybe it was an addiction that nearly ruined you?  Maybe it was a decision you made when you were dating someone?  Or a marital issue you had later in life that threatened divorce?  Maybe it was a professional choice or a financial crisis that threatened your financial security and your future?  When have you experienced a dark day in life in which a miracle took place?  A miraculous deliverance in which you were rescued.

Because all throughout the pages of the Bible we read about stories of miraculous deliverances.  Where God rescues His people in a dramatic way.  Like when Noah and his family are saved from the Flood on an ark.  Or Moses and the people of Israel are delivered from the hands of the Egyptians by crossing over the Red Sea.  Or when Daniel spends a night in the lion’s den and God shuts up the mouths of the lions.  Or when Jonah spends 3 nights in the belly of a great fish and then is spit out onto dry land.  Or when David conquers a giant named Goliath.  Or Elijah is delivered from the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah on top of Mount Carmel! 

Story after story after in the Old Testament of God’s power and His miraculous deliverance.  But the New Testament is filled with stories like this too.  And today we’re going to examine one of them from the book of Acts.  A true miracle.  A miraculous deliverance which has a lot to teach us and a lot which can encourage us as we face some of the darkest days of our lives.

So let’s get started.  If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 19.  Today we’re going to be in verses 23-41.  But to get through a passage this large we’re going to have to move quickly and cover just some of the key highlights.  As always, if you would like to follow along with us online we would encourage you to do so through our app called Church Center.  Just open it up and click on Sunday Services and Message Notes and you will find everything you need for our time together this morning.

As you turn there, let me just remind you that today we are in week 2 of a series of messages simply called Miracles where together we are reminding ourselves that our God is a God of the Impossible.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  And last week we learned about God’s miraculous power.  Paul had been in Ephesus and had performed many miracles in the name of Jesus.  But when a group of seven sons of Sceva misused the name of Jesus they were punished and all of Ephesus began to fear God and His miraculous power.  This week we’re going to examine His miraculous deliverance.  God’s ability to deliver us from those who want to destroy us.  And as we examine this story we’re going to see three reactions to Paul’s ministry and the Gospel message.  Three reactions which we will face too and need to be delivered from.

So in Acts 19, beginning in verses 23, we read:

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Alright.  So stop here.  We’re told that while Paul was still in Ephesus that a major event took place concerning “the Way” in verse 23.  The phrase “the Way” is found 6 times in the book of Acts and always as a reference to Christianity.  Why?  Because Christianity was considered a “way of life centered upon Jesus” and Jesus had said in John 14:6 that He was “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”.  So this verse tells us that people became upset with Christians.  

And it all started with a silversmith named Demetrius.  Demetrius, we’re told, was a silversmith who made idols of the goddess Artemis who was said to watch over the city of Ephesus.  She was believed to provide for and protect the people.  She was also a fertility goddess who was believed to provide children for the families.  So the people of Ephesus would buy shrines of this goddess and put them into their homes to worship her.  But when Paul came he began to speak the Gospel and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus.  He also began to teach the people that there was only one true God and therefore there was no need to worship any false god which had been made by the hands of men.  This angered Demetrius because his livelihood depended upon people buying these shrines.  And so he began telling the other craftsman that  if this continues people will stop worshipping Artemis and she will no longer be worshipped.  And his point is, “Listen.  If she is no longer worshipped, you might be looking for a job!”

Demetrius was angry.  And when you and I share the Gospel with others one of the emotional reactions we might face is anger.  Anger with the Gospel’s message.  Because when you and I share the Good News of Jesus and how He has died for our sins we’re also sharing the need for people to change their lives.  And that challenges people and they will not like that.  It will challenge a person’s identity.  Demetrius was known as a silversmith.  Some people are known within their professions.  But the Gospel says you are now a follower of Jesus.  It challenges what they worship.  The people of Ephesus worshipped Artemis.  People today worship famous singers and artists and skip church if the Colts are on TV.  The Gospel also challenges human pride and confronts human sin.  It says, “You’re not good enough.  Your life is not good enough.  You can’t come to God on your own.”  And people do not like that.  It also challenges them to make a response.  To change and turn their lives over to God.  So it challenges their wealth, their worship, their works, and their worldview.  The Gospel is offensive.  And because it is, many will react in anger to it.  So we need to be prepared to respond to that type of action.

But let’s continue.  Here’s what happened next.  Verse 28:

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

OK.  So as Demetrius spoke more and more the people became more and more upset.  And they began to cry out “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!  Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!  Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”  And so a mob formed and they rushed together and dragged some of Paul’s traveling companions including Gaius and Aristarchus and some people who were Macedonians.  We don’t know much about Gaius and the Macedonians but Aristarchus was a man from Thessalonica who is described in some of Paul’s letters as both a “fellow worker” and a “fellow prisoner”.  So this man was a faithful follower of Jesus who was willing to travel with Paul and put himself into the line of fire.  Here he and the others are dragged off into the theater in Ephesus.  It’s a theater you can still visit today.  Paul himself tried to also go and follow them but some of the disciples didn’t permit him to do so.  Eventually some of the crowd prompted a man named Alexander to speak but when they noticed he was a Jew they wouldn’t listen to him.  And just kept saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

But in verse 32 we read that the assembly was in “confusion” and that they didn’t even know why they had come together.  Verse 29 spoke of confusion and verse 32 repeats that idea.  The people who were there were confused.  The same is true with the Gospel.  Because one of the emotional reactions people have to the Gospel is confusion.  Confusion about the Gospel’s meaning.  That’s also true today.  People can become confused about what they’ve been told about the Gospel and about Jesus and even about God Himself.  People can become confused about the Trinity.  How is God both three and one?  How is He both Father, Son, and Spirit?  How can God be both Love and the One who judges us?  People can become confused about Jesus.  How can Jesus be both fully God and fully man?  People can become confused about suffering.  How can a God who is good and all-powerful allow suffering to take place?  People can be confused about our salvation.  How can we be saved by grace but also need to repent?  People can be confused about faith and works.  How can we be saved by faith but also be required to “work out our salvation”?  People can become confused about unanswered prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit or how Jesus will return?  On and on and on.  The Gospel is hard and difficult at times to understand.  And because it is, many will react in confusion to it.  So we need to be prepared to respond to that type of reaction.

Well, finally, after the crowd had been yelling and screaming for two hours straight the town clerk spoke.  A very important and powerful city official.  Here’s what happens in verse 35:

35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Alright.  So after the crowd had screamed for about two hours straight according to verse 34 the town clerk finally quieted the crowd and spoke to them.  He said, “Men of Ephesus, why are you doing this?  Everyone who knows anything about our city knows that we are the temple keeper to the great goddess Artemis and the keeper of the sacred stone that fell from the sky.  What was this sacred stone?  No one really knows but it appears to be some sort of connection to the divine.  In other words, ‘Everyone knows that the Greek gods chose the city of Ephesus to have the great temple of Artemis.’  So, since everyone knows this we shouldn’t do anything too rash or quickly here.  These guys haven’t done anything really wrong.  They’ve not shown or acted disrespectfully towards Artemis.  So if Demetrius or anyone else has charges they want to bring against these men let them do so.  The courts are open.  Otherwise, it’s time to go home!  So get out of here!  Because if you don’t we might all be charged with causing a riot today.”  And then he dismissed the assembly and apparently everyone left.

It was an amazing moment because here we have the town clerk, a Gentile politician and city official, standing up for Paul and his friends.  Someone who’s not concerned about what has happened at all.  Despite the fact that a large crowd had gathered and thought just the opposite!  And yet this man just brushes it all aside and is able to say, “These guys have done nothing wrong so now it's time to go home.”  He was apathetic towards what had happened.

And that leads to a third type of reaction to the Gospel that we will need deliverance from:  passivity.  Passivity towards the Gospel’s magnitude.  And when you stop and think about it this may be the worst response of them all.  Why?  Because anger shows a person cares and understands the importance of a decision for Jesus and confusion shows a person is concerned and wants to know but apathy and passivity show that a person doesn’t understand what’s at stake or doesn’t care about where they stand before God.  They don’t understand that there is a real heaven and a real hell and that they will one day live forever in one of those two places.  So some people are complacent and they think, “I’ve got time.  I don’t need to go to church.  I don’t need to find out who Jesus is or what He did for me.  I’ll figure that out when I get older.”  Others are complacent and think, “I’m too busy.  I’ve got a wife and kids and a job.  And I really like to go boating on weekends.  And my kids really like to play sports.  Maybe later.”  Others are complacent because they just assume they’re already fine.  They say, “Hey, I’m not perfect but I’m better than him.  I’m better than her.  God will accept me just for who I am.”  Some people are always learning but never obeying.  Others are Christians culturally but they don’t actually follow Christ.  All of it’s passive.  It’s being complacent and content and unwilling to change.

This past week Deb Kraft shared with me a video from Josh Howerton who is a Pastor in the Dallas, Fort-Worth, area.  And he points out that theologians like John Calvin have always used a three-legged stool analogy to describe three components of a saving faith.  And it was really helpful and useful so listen up!  How do you know if you have a saving faith?  Theologians over the centuries have identified three components.  First is Notitia or knowledge.  You must know the facts of the Gospel.  Who Jesus is, why He died, and why it matters.  Second is Assensus or Assent.  You must intellectually agree with and be convinced by these truths.  So you must believe in them, you might say.  And then third is Fiducia or Trust.  You must not only know them and believe in them but you must trust them.  You must personally rely upon them and live them out.  In other words, it’s not enough to simply know and believe.  You must also trust and live.  In the video, Josh Howerton said, “⅔ is not enough.  ⅔ will still send you to hell.”  And he’s right.  Passivity and complacency towards the Gospel leads to people knowing truth and believing truth but being unwilling to obey that truth.  Don’t make that mistake.  Because many will react with complacency when the Gospel is shared with them.  So we need to be prepared as well for that type of response.

Three responses: anger, confusion, and passivity.  Three ways in which people will respond to the Gospel and the Good News of Jesus.  Some will respond with anger like Demetrius and the silversmiths did.  Others will respond with confusion like the mob or crowd did.  Still others will respond with complacency or passivity like the town clerk did.  But no matter what the response, God calls us to be faithful and He shows us here how He can deliver us from any angry person, any confused mob, and any passive person.  

God can miraculously deliver us just as he miraculously delivered Paul and the other believers here.  So that no matter who comes against you and no matter how many of them they are or what they say or do as long as God is with you then that is enough.  It is enough to know that God is with you on the darkest days of your life and on the darkest days of your history.

Years after the events of Dunkirk a Nebraska newspaper ran a story about those events in 2011.  The article was celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James version of the Bible.  And within the article they told the story of how 400,000 troops had been trapped near the small town of Dunkirk, France, until a fleet of tiny boats operated by civilians came and saved their lives.  But they also told the story of the background of that message that was sent by the British officers to strengthen and encourage the troops.  Because when they wrote the words “But not if” they were actually quoting straight from the Bible.

From the King James version and the book of Daniel.  And in the book of Daniel it tells the story of how Daniel and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were all thrown into the fiery furnace but refused to go down in defeat.  They refused to bow down to the Enemy and worship a foreign god.  And in Daniel 3:17-18 it says this in the King James Version.  It says:

17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

So Daniel and his friends declared that they would trust God with their lives to the very end.  And that even if God chose not to deliver them from the fiery flames they would still follow Him.  And the British military wanted their troops to do the same.  Fight and stand your ground.  No matter what.  “But… if… not…”  Words to live by and for some words to die by.

Today God asks us to do the same.  Just as He asked Noah, Moses, Jonah, Daniel, David, Elijah, and Paul to do the same.  He asks us to do what He has called us to do.  To stand firm and speak the truth.  To proclaim the Gospel no matter what responses we may face.  And to trust as we do so He can deliver us just as He delivered each one of them.  Because our God is the God of the Impossible.  The God of miracles and He performs them each day.  So…

Share the Good News of Jesus and trust in God’s power to deliver you.

Let’s pray.

[Prayer:  For God to help us to trust in His power to deliver us from any situation or response.]

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