Be Resolved
Be Resolved
Acts 19:21-41
Six words. That’s all it took. As a young man, I was immersed in the world of sports. I played football, basketball and baseball in high school. I attended camps all summer long and throughout my years as an athlete I have heard one or two motivational speeches by a number of different coaches. Six words. Do you have what it takes? The season would be long and hard, this workout would be intense and exhausting, “Do you have what it takes?” For whatever reason, there has always been a part of me that wants to scream to that question, “Yes, I have what it takes.” I had several coaches who loved to yell and use mind games to try and motivate our teams, but for me all it took was six words. “Do you have what it takes?” I could spend hours sitting before a counselor trying to analyze my response to that question. One someone challenges my ability to complete a task or finish a workout, there has always been something in me that says, “Watch this! I’ll show you.”
Our greatest strengths are often our greatest weaknesses. Positively, my internal motivation or negatively, my fear of failure has allowed me to accomplish many things in my life, but it has come at a cost. Those of you who know me well know that I have a hard time slowing down. I have a tendency to put too much on my plate. I have the tendency to sacrifice sleep and my physical health to get things done. One of my greatest strengths can be one of my greatest weaknesses. In my flesh when I hear that question, “Do you have what it takes?” I still want to scream, “Yes, I have what it takes.” But the truth is I don’t have what it takes. I don’t have the strength to finish. I don’t have what it takes….alone. But the beauty of the Christian faith is that we are never alone. The Lord Jesus has said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We don’t have what it takes, but God does. With God, all things are possible.
This is not a motivational speech. I do not want to fire you up to trust in yourself. I want you to be resolved, determined, steadfast in your inability to finish the race by yourself. I want you to say, “I don’t have what it takes, but God does.” I can do this by his grace. One of my pastoral life verses is Colossians 1:28-29,
[28] Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. [29] For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
We proclaim Jesus Christ. Warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I desperately want the people of Park Baptist Church to be mature in Christ. I want you to be complete in him. I want to present you before the Father as whole and holy in Christ. But I do not have what it takes. That task is too great for me. As Paul said, “Who is sufficient for these things?” Does that mean we throw up our hands in defeat? By no means. For Colossians 1:29, Paul writes, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” You do not have the strength to endure, but God by his grace with his energy he powerfully works within you to carry out the task before you.
We need a greater resolve; a greater determination; a greater zeal to do the things the Lord has for us. Most of us are not in danger of too much resolve, but too little of it. We are not trusting in ourselves, but in Christ who lives in us. The Apostle Paul traveled with all the known world to proclaim Christ with the power of God. Paul was weak, God was strong. How did Paul complete the task? Galatians 2:20,
[20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Beloved, we have a mission. We are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all of God’s commands. We have a great mission that will take great resolve. Some see an impossible task and want to complete it in their own strength. Wrong. Some see an impossible task and never start it because of fear they won’t complete it. Wrong. We have an impossible task in our own strength, but we are not alone. So let us examine our resolve of what it is going to take to fulfill the mission.
Be Resolved to Serve
In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul is at Ephesus as he has started his third missionary journey. He has already been beaten, jailed, and stoned being left for dead. And yet, he is still on his mission to present people mature in Christ. Luke records most recently he spent two years at the hall of Tyrannus teaching that Jesus is the Christ. Luke records that because of Paul’s ministry, “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” The people of Ephesus responded in large numbers to Christ and repented by burning their books of the magical arts. Verse 20, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” God is powerfully moving in Ephesus and the word is spreading throughout Asia. Acts 19:21–22,
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” [22] And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Luke notes that Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia. It could be interpreted as his spirit (as in Paul’s spirit), but most commentators believe it is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Paul is resolved in the Holy Spirit to continue his mission. He wants to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, most likely to visit the churches that he has helped to establish. The reason most scholars believe the Spirit is a reference to the Holy Spirit is Paul’s resolve to go to Jerusalem. As the narrative continues, we will see Paul being warned not to go to Jerusalem because trouble and hardship await, but Paul was determined by the Holy Spirit to go. And remember everywhere that Paul went, he went proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ. He preached Christ and him crucified.
Paul’s resolve to serve the Lord on mission determined his travel plans. His main motivation was not comfort or ease, but the Lord’s will. He knew hardships would come to him in Jerusalem as he tells the Ephesian elders in the next chapter, Acts 20:22–24,
[22] And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23] except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. [24] But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul’s main concern was not his own life, but to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. He was resolved to face those hardships and was confident that God would carry him through those hardships. For he said, “After I have been there [to Jerusalem], I must also see Rome.” Paul knew the journey was going to be difficult, but he also knew God would carry him through that hardship.
Paul was resolved to serve the Lord. Are we? Are we more concerned with comfort or are we constrained by the Spirit of God? Did Paul get tired? Did Paul want to give up? Of course he did. We read about throughout his letters, but he didn’t. He was resolved to serve the Lord. Beloved, I know we are entering into the beginning of a fall semester which means many of our ministries are beginning a new season. Many teachers and students have the excitement of going back to class. We are engaging in new residencies and a new ESL ministry at Park. We have new visitors coming every week. And yet in a few months, the newness will wear off. We will be in the middle of the semester and we may get tired. Will you be resolved in the Spirit to serve the Lord then? We do not serve the Lord when it is convenient, but we serve him at all times. In season and out of season. Galatians 6:9–10
[9] And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Be resolved to serve the Lord for if you do not give up, you will reap a harvest in due season.
Be Resolved to Suffer
It is easier to serve the Lord when things are going well, but what happens when things get tough. “Do you have what it takes?” We have to prepare ourselves for suffering. What we see happen in Ephesus is parallel to what we see happening today when a whole society is revolting and attacking the faith. Acts 19:23–27,
[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.”
People do not really care about Christianity until it affects how they want to live. Demetrius was a silversmith who made silver shrines to Artemis and gave lots of business to other craftsmen. He started seeing his profits fall because people were not buying as many shrines. And why were they not buying shrines? Because they were turning away from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for Jesus to return from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, who delivers from the wrath to come. People were not buying idols because the Word of God was being heard throughout Asia, by Jews and Greeks, and was prevailing mightily.
After two years of seeing his profits slowly dwindle, Demetrius gathers all the tradesmen and rallies them against the Way (Christianity). He has three main arguments of why action needs to be taken. First, their wealth is in jeopardy. Second, our trade will fall into disrepute and will be lowly esteemed. Third, the temple of Artemis and her magnificence will be in danger. And after his speech the people respond aggressively, Acts 19:28–34,
[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!”
The crowd wanted Paul’s head so the disciples wouldn’t let him go in. It would have been a disaster for Paul to go to the center of the theater which could easily hold over 20,000 people. The people were enraged. All the people weren’t enraged, only some of them. Verse 32, “Now some cried one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.” I find this very interesting. There were a small number of people stirring things, but most of the crowd was swept into the frenzy not even knowing what they were doing. Over the last two years how many riots and gatherings did we see where a few people were enraged with many others following the crowd.
I recently watched Gladiator with Russell Crowe. It is an older movie now but one dialogue explains what we see in Acts 19 quite well. Two senators are talking about the gladiators fighting in the Coliseum.
Gracchus : Fear and wonder, a powerful combination.
Falco : You really think people are going to be seduced by that?
Gracchus : I think he knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it.
Rome is the mob. I have thought of this quote often over the last five years as I have seen people enraged over politics, race, social justice, and abortion. So many people are swept up into the frenzy of a few.
This is happening to our nation. There are a few who are stirring up the nation to be enraged over abortion restrictions and LGBTQ+ rights. The anger and hatred towards those who want to protect the life of the unborn is staggering. Roe vs. Wade was overturned on June 24th and that weekend pregnancy centers who advocate for life were attacked all over our country. Business after business has started offering their employees money to travel between states to kill their unborn child. Companies are encouraging and advertising more and more prominence for LGBTQ rights even encouraging children as young as 10 and 11 to have life altering surgeries. And if you speak against it, you are vilified. That has been the plan since the 1980s. It was not enough for homosexuality to be accepted but the goal was always to villify anyone who opposed it.
In Ephesus, they may have been concerned with Artemis’ reputation, but they were even more concerned with their bank accounts. They were not after the truth, but after protecting their way of life. Acts 19:26, “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.” What was Paul saying? “gods made with hands are not gods.” Demetrius did not even consider whether what Paul said was true. All he was concerned with was his trade. We know that gods made with hands are not gods. They are idols. Isaiah 44:6–8,
[6] Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
[7] Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
[8] Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”
The Lord goes on to show how foolish idolatry truly is. Why would anyone bow down before a piece of wood? Isaiah 44:18–20,
[18] They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. [19] No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” [20] He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
A deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?’ Beloved, the same is true today. People are not after truth, but after protecting their way of life. And they will protect aggressively and will be enraged with anyone who tries to stop it. We can see that clearly from the vitriol anger from political pundits to ESPN sports anchors in their response to Roe vs. Wade. The real problem is sinful, deluded hearts who do not want the truth. Those who want to protect their way of life over finding the truth. And yet as humans, we cannot deliver ourselves. We do not have what it takes because we are utterly sinful. We need a Deliverer.
If you are here and not a follower of Jesus Christ, please know we are glad you are here. Those last words may seem harsh. We have deluded hearts and are utterly sinful. We believe it about ourselves. We know we are sinners and need a Savior. And we believe God sent us a Savior, someone who truly had what it takes. He sent Jesus Christ to be our Deliverer. Jesus had a perfect heart who was always obedient to the Father. He was tempted in every way and was without sin. He came to deliver us from false idols and false worship. He came to give us new hearts so we could determine truth from a lie. So we could understand there is one God who made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He cannot be contained in images of stone or wood or silver. And even though he did nothing wrong, he was crucified on the cross. He died to pay for the sins of all who would trust in him. And after he was dead and buried, God raised him from the dead proving once and for all he was the Son of God. The resurrection is God’s declaration that a Deliverer has come. He has come to take our sins and deliver us from the wrath to come. Come to Jesus. He has what it takes to save you.
Church, if we resolve to live a godly life in Christ Jesus we will face persecution. We will suffer for his namesake. Are you prepared to suffer? For we will suffer if we stand for Christ.There are times we may be protected by the government as we see in Acts 19. Acts 19:35–41,
[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.
The clerk gives four succinct arguments. First, everyone knows Ephesus is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky. (The stone was probably a meteor that became a source of worship). Second, the men in the assembly, Gaius and Aristarchus, were not blaspheming or sacrilegious towards Artemis. It seems they were speaking for God rather than against Artermis. Third, there is a proper way to bring a charge against another. Lastly, you are in danger of being charged with starting a riot. And after he laid out the case, people were dismissed. I am not sure if it's the cohesiveness of the argument or if everyone was tired of yelling for two hours., but either way everyone went home.
God protected his people. There are times God gives his people favor with the government and there are other times the government is the main accuser of the brethren. What I believe is important for us to see here is that the nations will rage against God’s anointed and those who follow his anointed (Psalm 2). If you desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus and hold fast to a biblical ethic in regards to sex, gender and life, you will be persecuted. Are you resolved to suffer by his Spirit?
In life, we often have to make pre-decisions. A pre-decision is one you make before the situation arises. For example, you can make a pre-decision to prioritize the Lord’s Day gathering. So when those days come when you don’t feel like going, the decision has already been made. I would encourage you to make a pre-decision to suffer for Christ. Be resolved now, before suffering even comes, to suffer for his namesake. The time will come and has come for the saints to suffer for the name. Suffering is not enjoyable, but it is a privilege. It is a privilege to suffer for the name. Acts 5:40–42
[40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (ESV)
And Philippians 1:29,
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.
Be resolved now to suffer, not in your own strength, but in the power God provides.
Be Resolved to Slay
This last point is not taken explicitly from the text, but implicitly. The passage shows how the great movement of God will bring suffering upon the people of God. And yet, we are not without our own idols. We may not bow to idols of wood or silver, but we may be bowing to the idols of comfort or sex or reputation or image or family. Romans 8:12–17,
[12] So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” [16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We must be resolved to slay the deeds of the flesh. We must put them to death. We are debtors to Christ. Beloved,
Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Jesus has given us everything so we are called to live our lives for him.
What are your idols? Where do you seek comfort outside of Christ? Where do you escape to? When was the last time you asked God to reveal to you your idols? Hear this warning and promise: For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Beloved, by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body and you will live in Christ.
Do you have what it takes? No. Do you have what it takes with Christ? 100% yes. Jesus paid it all, all to him owe. He who did not spare his own Son how will he not graciously with him give us all things? Our confidence is not in our flesh but in Christ who took on flesh to save us. He who calls you is faithful. He has what it takes. Trust Him.