"[Paul] took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. ...In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power." Acts 19:9-10, 20
God moved in amazing ways through Paul's ministry in Ephesus. The key to this dynamic ministry was faithfulness to "the word of of the Lord." As the word was faithfully preached and taught by Paul and his companions it "spread widely" so that it was heard throughout the surrounding province and it "grew in power" as many believed and experienced radical transformation (demonstrated through open repentance from their past evil ways). I am reminded of Charles Spurgeon's statement, "The word of God is like a lion; you don't have to defend it, you just turn it loose." God's word is powerful! If we are faithful to preach and teach it then it will spread out widely and grow in power in our community.
Father, thank you for your powerful Word. Help us to preach it, teach it, and share it faithfully so that it may spread and transform lives in our community as it did in ancient Ephesus.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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God Bless you Pastor Mark,
ReplyDelete1Co. 2:2 Paul said, "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except JESUS CHRIST and him crucified. I came to you in weakness, fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Like Paul I pray that we depend on the word of God to make changes in peoples lives and not on our conventional worldly wisdom. LOve in Christ Francie