Contrasting Visions

Last night at our launch team meeting we looked at two contrasting visions in the book of Acts. One is found in Acts 19 and the other in Acts 17.  Here are a few of my follow up thoughts and main points to the devotion:

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. ²⁴ It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. ²⁵ He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:

“Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. ²⁶ But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! ²⁷ Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis-this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world-will be robbed of her great prestige!”

²⁸ At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” – – – ⁴⁰ I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” ⁴¹ Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.

Demetrius had a vision. His vision was for his own personal gain. He had an agenda to have a successful business and to make a lot of money. The worship of the false goddess, Artemis, is what fueled Demetrius’ towards achieving his vision of a successful business. Demetrius was smart because he played on the emotions of his employees. He understood that a man will do whatever he has to do to provide for his family, so Demetrius painted a picture that Paul was taking there ability to provide for their family and to make money by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. Two things stick out about Demetrius and I believe we can say the same thing for anyone who pursues their own agenda over God’s vision:

1. They are not Willing to Sacrifice – (Vs. 23-26, 28) For Demetrius to abandon the vision he had for his business to embrace the vision of God as carried out by Paul and the other Apostles, it would have cost Demetrius a ton of money (Reminds me of the rich young ruler in Luke 18). His businesses relied on the worship of the false goddess, Artemis, and if lives were being changed, there would be less people worshiping Artemis, and therefore less demand for handcrafted idols.
2. They are not Willing to Suffer – (Vs. 27, 40-41) People who follow their own agenda over God’s vision, try to control their lives and every situation around them to forcibly make what they desire to come to pass. They absolutely have to maintain some level of control, because their vision has no power. In this scripture, God’s movement was prevailing, and Demetrius and the city council tried their hardest to stop it, but it couldn’t be done. Demetrius and the city council were more worried about losing respect and facing trouble by the Romans, so they backed away from their uprising at the movement of God. When there is no power in what you are trying to do, it won’t be long, when trouble arises, that you’ll be jumping ship!

In Acts 17:3-9, there is an opposing reaction to God’s vision and movement. Check it out…

He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” ⁴ Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

⁵ But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. ⁶ Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. ⁷ And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

⁸ The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. ⁹ So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

Christ’s movement was increasing through the influence of Paul and Silas. Many people  were placing their faith in Jesus Christ. Jason caught this vision from God and through his actions we can see a couple of things that is evident when we embrace God’s vision for his church and his people:

1. They are Willing to Suffer Personally (Vs. 3-7) – Jason did nothing more than open his home for Paul and Silas to have a place to stay. The Scripture never says that he even opened his mouth to proclaim the Gospel, yet the mob came and attacked his home, drug him before the city council, accused him, and threatened greater consequences for being a part of this vision. Jason could have saved his own Butt by telling the council where Paul and Silas were. What did he have to gain from keeping them hid? Nothing earthly. The Scripture never says that Paul gave him recognition for his act of bravery and self surrender. Jason didn’t need that. He willingly kept his mouth shut, endured his home being attacked, endured being roughed up physically, and being accused. Simply so the movement could continue and God’s vision could prevail.
2. They are Willing to Sacrifice Personally (Vs. 8-9) – This whole thing started with Jason being willing to open his home to Paul and Silas to give them a place to stay. This was extra cleaning for two additional people in their household, extra food to provide for them to eat…his hospitality alone was a great sacrifice, but in verse 9 the scripture says that they were forced to post bail to be released. Jason has already faced personal suffering for the vision that Paul and Silas were carrying out, but now, its costing him money. Now most people draw the line right here! When suffering begins to start costing us financially, all of a sudden, it must not be God anymore. Not for Jason…he believed in the vision to the place where he was willing to sacrifice to see it come to pass. At any moment Jason could have renounced this movement, protected his home, saved face from public humiliation, and saved his money…but the vision had POWER and when God is in the middle of something, those who do not have their own agendas are drawn to it.

• Are you willing to suffer and sacrifice personally to see God’s vision come to pass? Or do you have your own personal agenda that is hindering you from diving all the way in?
• God’s vision has no room for personal agendas. Those who only seek power, recognition, financial security,  positions, etc. prevent the movement of God from happening through them.
• Let’s lay our personal agendas aside, fully embrace God’s vision for our lives (New Passion: to lead people to a passionate relationship with Jesus) and see a Revolutionary God Movement take place in our lives and in our cities!