Day 329, November 25 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Acts 18:23–20:6
Spiritual Adversity; Paul's Third Missionary Journey
According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2018), which produces a Christian World-Wide Database, “an average of 160,000 Christians are martyred for their faith per year.” The Voice of the Martyrs organization chronicles the daily persecutions of Christians all over the world. What should we do about it? Later in this lesson we see how we can fight against the devil (Satan).
Christianity was not popular with the Jews in the first century, so they punished followers of Christ, thinking they were heretical. The missionaries were also opposed by demons, and spiritual warfare seemed prominent during Paul’s third missionary journey.
Paul’s third missionary journey
Paul and Silas travel to Galatia and Phrygia, where the Holy Spirit prevented them from going on their second missionary journey. We don’t know the exact reason, but 1Thessalonians 2:18 gives us a clue.In this letter, Paul states that Satan hindered him and his companions from visiting Thessalonica in Asia Minor (Turkey). This area was a hotbed of demonic activity; Revelation 2:13 describes it as the place of Satan’s throne, his seat of power on earth. Here, there was great idolatry and wickedness.
Perhaps Paul and Silas were delayed from going to Galatia because spiritual warfare was being waged there. However, on Paul’s third missionary journey, he and his companions are allowed to evangelize the people in this area for two years.
We should be flexible with God’s plans, even if we do not understand them; the Lord may be protecting us from evil or have other designs for us.
A Team Effort
Those in the military tell us that battles are not won by single efforts but by team efforts. Many of the heroes don’t come home. In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila, a Christian couple, are also involved in spiritual ministry. Ephesus is an area of idol worship and sexual carelessness. Priscilla and Aquila help disciple Apollos, who is a Christian from Alexandria, Egypt. He joins their team. Apollos is an effective communicator and a well-educated man. “He vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ”When Apollos wants to go to Corinth, they encourage him. He becomes such a competent defender of the faith against the Jewish religion that he is a great help to the Corinthian church.
Paul and Silas then come to Ephesus and face spiritual adversity. When Paul speaks in the synagogue (a small meeting place for teaching, worship, and community affairs), some attendees publicly malign his teachings. Because of this resistance, Paul leaves the synagogue and holds discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He does this for two years and also heals diseases and casts out demons. When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, attempt to do the same, the demons attack them.
The residents of Ephesus practice black magic, but when people turn to the LORD, they publicly burn everything related to their evil arts. Have we turned away from sinful things to worship the one and only God?
Do we face spiritual battles today? Yes! Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus,
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 6:11-12, NIV).How do we fight against the devil? Should we cast out demons? Although there are classes on how to cast out demons, we should take a warning from Acts 19 and know this practice is extremely dangerous. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of Satan and his evil entourage. There were some that even Jesus’ disciples could not cast out (Matthew 17:15-20). Instead, we are commanded to “put on the full armor of God, so that [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11, NIV). What is the armor of God? We will learn more about it when we come to our Ephesians Bible study, but this link is a helpful explanation.
When Paul and Silas lead many people to the LORD, it hurts the silversmith and idol-making trades; fewer idols are being purchased. Thus, the craftsmen incite Ephesus’s people against Paul and Silas on behalf of their fertility goddess, Artemis. Paul’s traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, are mistakenly dragged in front of the crowd. The people create such a disturbance that the town clerk has to settle them down. However, when he finds there is no justifiable reason to keep them, he dismisses the crowd and lets the men go free. God is their defense in spiritual adversity, and he will be our defense if we have a spiritual relationship with him.
Discussion
If we experience delays in doing God’s will, how should we react?
How is Christianity a team effort?
Should we cast out demons? If not, how should we fight against the devil?
Focus Verse
Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Watch a video of Paul's third missionary journey here. Start at 2:03:45 and end at 2:14:19
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A Look Ahead: While Paul is on his third missionary journey he hears of serious divisions in the church of Corinth. Some churches today have the same problem. Paul urges them to Be Sober-Minded. Read what this means and how it helps in our Next Lesson.
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