The Pinnacle of Paul’s Journeys Ephesus: The Third Missionary Journey

Until Now… But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1:8-9 (NASB95)

…Then the Second Missionary Journey…” “…the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them…” “…the Holy Spirit had prevented them…” “…That night Paul had a vision…” Acts 16:6-10 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” Acts 18:9-10 (NLT) And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it… 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (NLT) Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9 (NASB95) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Romans 1:16 (NLT) Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters… Acts 18:18-21 (NLT)

What Does a Movement Look Like? Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. They stopped first at the port of Ephesus. They asked him to stay longer… …but he declined… As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. Acts 18:18-21 (NLT) Paul left the others [Prisca & Acquilla] behind…

What Does a Movement Look Like? 1. God Gathers the Right People… 2. Beyond “My Kind of People…” Female leaders and teachers were prominent. Female leaders and teachers were prominent. Lydia, ‘Prominent Women’, Prisca, Junia… Lydia, ‘Prominent Women’, Prisca, Junia… God is not Bound by Our Social Damage. God is not Bound by Our Social Damage. Paul left the others [Prisca & Acquilla] behind… Junia…highly respected among the apostles. Romans 16:7 (NLT)

What Does a Movement Look Like? 1. God Gathers the Right People… 2. Beyond “My Kind of People…” The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Acts 18:22-23 (NLT)

What Does a Movement Look Like? 1. God Gathers the Right People… 2. Beyond “My Kind of People…” 3. Almost Chaos… False Teachers in Galatia… False Teachers in Galatia… Swindlers in Philippi… Swindlers in Philippi… Cults arising everywhere… Cults arising everywhere… Corinthianizing at Corinth! Corinthianizing at Corinth! Divisions… Divisions…

What Does a Movement Look Like? 1. God Gathers the Right People… 2. Beyond “My Kind of People…” 3. Almost Chaos… Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. Acts 18:24 He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. Acts 18:25 (NLT) When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Acts 18:26 (NLT) Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. Acts 18:27 (NLT)

Acaia …each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," … 1 Corinthians 1:11-12 (NASB95) It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:1-5 (NASB95)

What Does a Movement Look Like? 1. God Gathers the Right People… 2. Beyond “My Kind of People…” 3. Almost Chaos… 4. The Right People at the Right Time… First Prisca and Aquilla First Prisca and Aquilla Then Apollos Then Apollos Then 12 More Competent, Zealous Leaders Then 12 More Competent, Zealous Leaders And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION“ 2 Corinthians 6:1-4 (NASB95)

Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION“ 2 Corinthians 6:1-4 Some Obvious Points God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him Today. Today. They were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return. Psalms 78:39 (NASB95) I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season…. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NASB95)

Some Obvious Points God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him God is the Author of Movement. God is the Author of Movement. Ask God to Raise Laborers. Ask God to Raise Laborers. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NASB95) And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:2 (NASB95)

Some Obvious Points God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him God Provides the Opportunity to Meet Him God is the Author of Movement. God is the Author of Movement. Respond to God’s Leadership. Respond to God’s Leadership. To His Sovereign “NO” To His Sovereign “NO” To His Sovereign “YES” To His Sovereign “YES” They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; Acts 16:6 (NASB95)

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