A study of true Holy Spirit revivals has proved that people coming under the sphere of the Spirit’s reach, change their behavioral patterns and society in general becomes a better place wherein to live. It is said that during the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 and the years that followed saw a drastic reduction in violent crimes and anti-social behavior. Firstly drunkenness was reduced to the point where there were literally no murders, domestic violence and other crimes such as theft. Hardened coalminers came from underground and in place of visiting the pub, they went home. As homes became a happier place, marriages improved as did the behavior of the children. Police Stations had less work to do, prisons were emptied, whilst Churches were filled. Life in general, from the house to the workplace, from the classroom to the sports field, from the law enforcement agency to the courtrooms, from neighborliness to respecting property, lives and society all improved radically. Why? Because the Spirit of God fell from above, convicting people of sin, forcing people to consider the terrible holiness of God and fear Him and drive them to desire a right relationship with God, ushering in a right relationship with mankind, man’s possessions, employer’s possessions and state property. This is what we desperately need to be praying towards in our day. It is time for God to return to us in power and might where once again the Church returns to exist for the Glory of God; the Gospel returns to be seen as God calling the lost to salvation; where society turns away for the religions of secularism and materialism to the religion of the Bible where Jesus is Lord, King and reigns. We need God to say in our day as He had said through the prophet Zechariah (chapter 8) … consider the absolute beauty of:
Zec 8:4 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
No crime or violence or delinquency … even the streets will be safe for the elderly and children! And God will be happy and delighted about it:
Zec 8:6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.
If you have time please read the whole chapter with Jesus and Pentecost (Acts 2) in mind. Look then at what happens when the “goodness” of God falls upon the people:
Zec 8:14 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me,” says the LORD Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.
Now we return to our readings in Acts:
Ac 19:17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
1) Who works behind evil beating evil? Yesterday we saw the man who was indwelt with an evil spirit giving the seven sons of Sceva a terrible hiding leaving them half clothed and badly beaten to the point of open bleeding wounds. Who was behind this … evil beating up evil? I want to suggest that it was the Holy Spirit using this event to the advantage of the Gospel!
(1) The first result was that this happening became known throughout the city. Jews and Greeks alike heard of what happened … that is, not just the beating of these sons but what lay behind it.
(2) This led to the second and more important result … they were all seized with fear. Picture the City of Ephesus … “they were all” … that is all the citizens were affected by the news resulting in a holy fear … a dread … being filled with terror literally capturing them. The word “seized” means to take possession of the person or people.
(3) The third result was that be it Jews or Greeks, Christian and non-Christian alike, the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor! Luke uses Jesus’ full title, Lord Jesus 18 times in Acts. He wants his readers to know exactly who he is writing about. This is the Risen and Ascended Lord He is talking about. This is the one who reigns at the right hand of the Majesty on High! He wants us to know the people held a deep respect for Jesus … even though many did not believe for salvation. For Jesus’ name to be “held in high honor”, means the people acknowledged the name of the Lord Jesus was not a name to trifle with as did the sons of Sceva and the other so called exorcists, trying to make money out of this name, the name of Jesus! Let’s repeat that the Lord Jesus’ (God’s) name is not to be messed with.
2) The Holy Spirit used this evil beating evil to usher in spiritual revival. Look at a few things that happened …
(1) Those who were saved through this happening came clean publically.
Ac 19:18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
“Evil Deeds” refers to trickery. They confessed how they tricked people before coming to Jesus and His salvation. These were public testimonies of salvation from idolatry and deception to faith is the Lord Jesus. That the Spirit captured their hearts was more important than how society perceived them. This is one of the first marks of a genuine conversion … a story to tell … and publically. The benefit is threefold.
(i) Personal. Sharing your testimony gives you confidence and assurance of your commitment to Jesus as Lord.
(ii) Church. Sharing your testimony with the congregation gives them the confidence and assurance that you are one with them in Jesus.
(iii) World. When the world hears you testify to your conversion to Jesus as Lord, apart from them keeping an eye on you to see the genuineness of your declaration, they hear the Gospel by you telling how you have been changed by the Lord Jesus.
(2) Those who were saved demonstrated their salvation vividly.
Ac 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Those whose livelihood was practicing “magic arts” (sorcery) burned their tools of the trade in public.
(3) Such public demonstrations of salvation lead to people spreading the Gospel far and wide.
Ac 19:20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
As the Gospel spreads so does the name and fame of the Lord Jesus become submitted to. Good questions to provoke ourselves with are …
(a) Have I submitted to Jesus as Savior, King and Lord?
(b) Have I demonstrated my salvation by public testimony?
(c) Have I circumcised myself publically from all alien past relics associated with that which is decidedly ungodly?
Where God sees and knows the heart, the public see our performance and behavior!
Father God, search my heart and my possessions and see if there be anything that does not line up with Your precious Gospel. Mercifully help me to get rid of everything that does not please You in me. Amen.