C. Peter Wagner: I believe we will notbe too far from wrong if we regard
Artemis of the Ephesians (#56 Artemis
of the Ephesians) as a territorial spirit
and see the possible relationship that
weakening her had to do with the
evangelization of the territory she dominated.
Certainly the "word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed" in Ephesus (Acts 19:20).
Not only did a strong church develop there, but Ephesus became an evangelistic center for the whole region to the extent "that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10).
Some historical sources of the times, other than the Bible also reveal the belief early Christians had about Artemis.
Yale historian Ramsay MacMullen sees much of the Christanization of the Roman Empire as a power encounter between Christianity and the resident demonic forces.
He tells the story of one such power encounter involving Artemis from The Acts of John.
Supposedly the apostle John, unlike the apostle Paul, went into Artemis' temple itself to do strategic-level spiritual warfare.
He reportedly prayed the following warfare prayer:
"O God...at whose name every idol takes flight and every
demon and every unclean power, now let the demon that
is here take flight in Thy name."
At that moment, so the story goes, the altar of Artemis split in peaces, and half of the temple building collapsed! (Ramsay MacMullen, Christianizing the Roman Empire, A.D. 100-400 (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1984, p. 26)
History again indicates this had a direct evangelistic effect. The Acts of John records that, following this power encounter led by John, the Ephesians said,
"We are converted now that we have seen thy marvellous
works."
Clinton Arnold's study indicates,
"The influx and expansion of Christianity eventually
wrought the demise of the cult of the Ephesian Artemis."
(Google image and emphasis added)
#57 Releasing Evangelistic Power
By C. Peter Wagner
(pgs. 98-99) Regal BooksBy C. Peter Wagner
Father, let us be ambassadors for the Kingdom
of Jesus right where we live. May I be one who
will faithfully pray for others You lay on my heart
each day. Help me remember that praying really
does make a difference in my life, as well as
in the lives of those I pray for.
I ask this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Today’s Bible verse: Hab. 2:20 "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Today's praise verse: Ps. 9:11 "Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done."
Today’s quote:
Derek Prince - "I have encountered spurious people trying to make others happy without getting them to live according to God's Word. This does not produce the results God has promised. His order is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (p. 210 of The Gifts of the Spirit).
Some thoughts today:
- Let God so fill you in your prayer/meditation time with Him, that His love flows through you to others in their need.
- God wants us to give reckless grace; meaning so much grace that folks are blessed by our generosity. That's what He gives to us, dear friends!
- In 1 Peter 4:9,10, we are told "to use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
- Let God so fill you in your prayer/meditation time with Him, that His love flows through you to others in their need.
- God wants us to give reckless grace; meaning so much grace that folks are blessed by our generosity. That's what He gives to us, dear friends!
- In 1 Peter 4:9,10, we are told "to use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
Springtime Battles
Muddy, muddy, gush, gush
As my feet go push, push
Across the soft and wet, wet ground
Mud tries had to suck me down
Tries to take my shoes and keep me
But I stand firm and keep on going
shoes stay on but mud is showing
Remnants of my springtime battle
With that soft an gushy ground
Snow in places still is showing
As my feet do keep on going
Across the muddy, gushy ground
My destination soon I'm reaching
As my feet continue breaching
Springtime muddy, wet, wet ground
I look back and see my journey
Footprints rapidly are learning
Power of the soft and gushy ground
How amazing is the power
Of the mud that makes us cower
When we wage our springtime battles
With the soft and muddy ground.
Debbie McEwen
tmcewen91@yahoo.com
16th- Tuesday’s post: #58 Territoriality Now: Anthropology
C. Peter Wagner
18th- Saturday's post: What If?
Jean Oathout
19th- Sunday evening's post: The Names of God
Joe Stowell
21st- Tuesday's post: #59 Territoriality in Southern Mexico
C. Peter Wagner
C. Peter Wagner
18th- Saturday's post: What If?
Jean Oathout
19th- Sunday evening's post: The Names of God
Joe Stowell
21st- Tuesday's post: #59 Territoriality in Southern Mexico
C. Peter Wagner
A popular post:
Trust God with your Time
the importance of our disciplining ourselves concerning the use of our time:
"Discipline is obedience, a lifetime process that brings us to a state of order by training and controlling our behavior. Discipline is focusing and eliminating, zeroing in on what is important in every area of life. .."
[Boy, this is good stuff!]
.jpg)
A Devotional with wisdom for women contemplating marriage, and a great gift
for someone who needs help in their
marriage.
marriage.
No comments:
Post a Comment