The Territorial Church – the Church in Society
“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.” (Acts 19:26)
You are warmly welcome!
It has been well asserted that the Church is called to be an instrument of transformation in society, and last Sunday’s preacher decried areas that need attention: captivity in traditional beliefs and practices like witchcraft, resurgence of cunning false teachings and satanic worship especially in schools, and increased secularism evidenced in attempts to remove Christian principles and teachings from schools and the marriage institution. He called upon all Christians to be missioners to their own culture and confront these acts with the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit – this is the territorial Church.
The story in Acts 19 presents two strong leaders: Paul championed the gospel that heavily undermined idol worship to the extent that dealers in man-made gods were fast losing business. His leadership and preaching were so effective that those who heard him in Ephesus spread the same gospel and “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord” and “in almost all of Asia this Paul … persuaded and turned away a great many people” (v.10,26). Paul had a small team that rocked the city famous as the host for one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world – the Temple of Diana. A new greater gospel wonder was seriously diminishing the long-standing goddess and her temple, and such transformation is what our world needs today. Captivity in traditional and false beliefs and worship is affecting many people around and they need this gospel; and you can be the vessel to share the Word and bring deliverance and freedom to many.
Another leader is Demetrius. He was the chief loser when their business enterprise started feeling the effects of the gospel. He was a leader in working silver, and seems to have had many craftsmen and labourers working under him. The size of his company and this trade may be measured by the fact that the riotous demonstration they staged paralyzed the whole city. Demetrius therefore led a strike against the gospel because of selfish gain. There are some people in society who only mind their wealth or fame, and will fight the gospel and anything else that interferes. They lead and cause society to go astray and reject the saving Word of God; watch out for them. Paul versus Demetrius: What kind of transformation are you contributing to?
God bless you!