Report of M06: David Devenish - The Ephesus Mission: A pattern for World Evangelization

Acts 19:

  • God has said, “the earth will be filled by the glory of God as the waters cover the sea”
  • What was the apostle’s strategy?
  1. He established a base church in God’s timing
    • He said to the church at Thessalonica that the testimony had gone out from them
    • Previously he had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from doing this!
      • The timing must be prophetically led
    • Paul left Aquilla and Pricilla there in faith
  2. He ensured that key values were established in the core group
    • He noticed a serious deficiency in the disciples
    • One of the weaknesses that occurs is a failure to establish core values in the base group.
  3. Consistent teaching of apostolic revelation
    • Paul taught so powerfully in the Hall of Tyrannus that it was spread out throughout the province of Asia
    • Apostolic foundations
    • The Big Picture, from Genesis to Revelation, showing them how they play a part in it.
      • This takes people away from a “felt needs” philosophy of the Christian life
    • All the prophecies have been fulfilled in the reigning Christ who has poured out his Spirit
    • A new people who are made up of every tribe and tongue
  4. Power Evangelism
    • A tangible level of anointing
    • Not a special service to bless handkerchiefs
    • Story of when he preaching in Russia on the valley of dry bones and a lady got healed of terminal cancer
  5. They confronted the culture and worldview
    • This exorcism described in the passage was by local exorcists who would try different ways till one worked
    • Whenever I taught a certain course, demons would manifest. We have to deal with this and confront these things
    • There are strongholds in the west where business models and practices have a grip on the church
    • Dealing with these strongholds will have an effect on the culture outside
    • So the silversmiths started to notice it.
  6. Paul modelled relational servant leadership
    • He gave himself to them with tears.
    • In Pakistan I taught the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet
      • I took the shoes off an old man and started to massage his feet
      • The man, and other people started to weep
    • This made such an impact that it was all people were talking about.
    • Our body language conveys so much
  7. He also endured massive opposition and pressure
    • Just after he left Ephesus he wrote 2 Corinthians and what did he write about?
      • Not the revival, but nearly being killed because of the hardships
      • This wasn’t minor inconvenience, but difficulty that led almost to despair
    • To establish whole regions requires entering into the suffering of Christ
      • Recently in Turkey there were some horrific martyrdoms, and I was with some people who knew those who died
    • We mustn’t underestimate the challenge, but
  8. He prepared for future advance
    • He was even then planning for Spain
    • Apostles are not senior managers, but are called to train leaders and move on
    • The mission in Ephesus is a pattern for us for world evangelization