Who are You? Acts 19:1-20 Darius Thomson

Disciples = 1.‘Christians’ - Antioch 2.Part of a ‘sect’ called ‘The Way’ (Acts 19:9 & 23) The Way = ? 1.The Way ≠ just a religion 2.The Way = Christianity The Way

Who are You? Be on your Way!

ACTS 19: And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

The Way ≠ (just) A lifestyle

Why did the believers need the Holy Spirit? – To be born again; not just living a righteous lifestyle! Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. – To be able to come directly into God’s presence Heb 10:19-20 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, – To be born again; to join God’s family; LOVE & RELATIONSHIP John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. ACTS 19: 8-12

The Way ≠ (just) teaching

Why did the believers need the Holy Spirit & not just teaching? V8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. I Cor 4:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. …. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Mat 22:29 You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

ACTS 19: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” had believed 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Way ≠ (just) magic tricks

How is the Holy Spirit better than magic tricks? V13-20 “I know Jesus & Paul.” Paul had the power of the Holy Spirit unlike the exorcists of his time. The name of Jesus was magnified & the Word of God was magnified when the fakes were exposed. Who are you? A child of God who lives like Him with the Word & power. The undeniable evidence is the FRUIT (gifts have been imitated for centuries). Our genuineness magnifies Christ and His word. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against such there is no law.

The Way = …?

The Way = … A lifestyle of love Act 24:14a …according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers,... Teaching & Holy Spirit revelation Acts 18:26 …. instructed Apollos in the WAY of God Power for living through death on The Cross 1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. JESUS JESUS John 14:6 ‘I am the way…’

CONCLUSION 1. Do you know the WAY? Do you know Jesus by his Holy Spirit? 2. Do you have the lifestyle of the WAY? Take up your cross and follow me 3. Are you living in the Power of the Way? A fruitful life knowing both the scriptures and the Power of God A disciple must grow in the WAY and encourage others to follow

Who are you? A disciple of the WAY

Question of the year: Will you … Grow together … on the WAY of the disciple?