“How People Respond to the Gospel”
By Pastor Donny Granberry
Acts 18:23 – Acts 20:38
After spending a short time in Antioch, Paul begins his third missionary journey for the purpose of encouraging the disciples in the churches he previously founded.
On this missionary trip, we will discover different ways that people respond to the gospel.
I. Some Become Spirit Filled
Acts 19:1-7 NIV
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
When Paul arrives in Ephesus, he comes in contact with some disciples who “have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.”
They had only known of John’s baptism, which was a water baptism, so Paul explains the Gospel to them.
Paul then lays hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues and prophesying.
There are many believers in churches today who have not received the infilling of the Holy Spirit because they are not being given the whole Gospel, or they are taught an incorrect gospel.
It is not the responsibility of the Pastor, Teacher, Prophet, Evangelists, or Apostles to reveal truth, it is our responsibility to preach the undiluted word of God and the Holy Spirit will reveal truth.
If you want a Pentecostal church, then there must be a presentation of the person of the Holy Spirit.
No Pentecostal Pulpit will always generate No Pentecostal Pew.
The people of Ephesus heard the gospel, they believed the gospel, and they received the gift of the gospel.
Too many today desire to discard the third person of the Godhead.
They will say, the day of tongues is over.
It is no longer needed or desired in the church.
Is the Father still a valid person in of the Godhead?
Is Jesus still a valid person of the Godhead?
That being so, we must also recognize that the Holy Spirit is also a valid person of the Godhead.
If you never put gas in your car, it will not run.
If no-one ever fishes, you will never enjoy fish.
If the person of the Holy Spirit is never welcomed in the church, the church will never be what God designed it to be.
One way people respond to the Gospel is by becoming Spirit Filled, a way people respond to the Gospel is …
II. Some Become Hardened
Acts 19:8-10 NIV
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
While in Ephesus, Paul continues what has become a way of life to him, preaching.
After 3 months of hearing Paul’s preaching, some on his listeners become obstinate (hardened).
Hebrews 4:7b NIV
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
There are far too many today who have heard the word of the Lord, but have hardened their hearts.
Every time the word of God is taught or preached and we fail to respond, our hearts become a little more hardened.
The messages become condescending, boring; it seems as though they are always aiming at me, I feel like the only rabbit in the shooting gallery.
To move from Religion to relationship we must have receptive hearts.
Some respond to the gospel by being “Spirit Filled,” some by becoming hardened, and …
III. Some Become Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
During Paul’s ministry at Ephesus, extraordinary miracles occur.
God gave Paul such an anointing that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were used to bring forth miracles.
God used these miracles to authenticate Paul’s ministry, as He did with Moses, Christ, and the apostles.
The book of Acts covers about 30 years and it is a time of transition for the church.
There was no N.T. at this time to guide new believers.
As a result of the miracles of Paul, wolves in sheep’s clothing fleece many believers by using the tactic’s that Paul used.
The difference was that Paul had an anointing; they had an agenda, or a plan.
They wanted to financially profit from his miracles.
The efforts of the seven son’s of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, backfire when they attempt to cast out demons in the name of Jesus.
Acts 19:13-16 NIV
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15[One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
When the people of Ephesus see this, they burned their magic books, which were valued at over 4,000,000. dollars today.
Some televangelist’s today tell you that if you will give to their ministry and follow them you will be healthy and wealthy.
If you eat right you will be healthy, and if you stop sending money to them, you will become wealthier.
I never saw Jesus’ disciples begging for money, because He was with them and a part of what they were doing.
Responders of the Gospel become Spirit Filled, Hardened, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, and …
IV. Some Become Hostile
Acts 19:23-41
The riot in Ephesus.
The Revival happening in Ephesus as a result of the Gospel being preached began putting the silversmith’s who made shrines of Artemis (Diana) out of business.
Diana was a sex goddess and therefore the Temple built for her was basically a cat house.
Any kind of erotic pleasure was performed there.
The Azusa Street Revival messed up a lot of lucrative business here in America.
It was unpopular, and dangerous, to be Pentecostal.
Bro. Graham was dragged out of his car and beaten with a baseball bat.
It shut down the moonshine business in Freestone County.
New York Post cartoonist – caption of Sarah Palin speaking in tongues.
There will always be people who are hostile to the gospel because they profit from vice, child pornography, magazines, adult videos, websites, drugs, alcohol, and other vices.
Hostility toward the gospel occurs because of what the gospel does.
What does the Gospel do?
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Responders of the gospel become Spirit Filled, Hardened, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, Hostile, and …
V. Some Become Eternal Friends
All along Paul’s missionary trips he makes lifelong, eternal friends that would have never happened had he not become a preacher of the gospel.
There are many people in the church today that have built relationships with people in the church that have become closer than their own natural family.
You will have many experiences that would have never happened had it not been for the church.
One of the great experiences that happened to Paul was while he was preaching.
Most people in the church today would tell you they would love to sit under Paul’s ministry, but they could not handle it because Paul was a long winded preacher.
Eutychus was sitting in the window listening to Paul preach and fell asleep, and fell from the window, breaking his neck and killing him.
If you’re going to kill them, you had better be able to heal them.
Some of the eternal relationships made here on earth will be rekindled in heaven.
PaJohn – I have not seen him in about 9 years. We became eternal friends and I will see him again in heaven.
When we get to heaven, there will be eternal friends there who will say, “I am here because of you.”
You witnessed to me. You invited me to church. You led me to the Lord. I saw Jesus in you.
How do people respond to the gospel?
Some become Spirit Filled, some become Hardened, Some become Wolves in Sheep’s clothing, Some become Hostile, while others become Eternal Friends.
How do you respond to God’s word?
How do you want to be remembered?
What kind of legacy will you leave?
