After Jesus’ resurrection, He presented Himself to His followers for 40 days after His resurrection. And what was He teaching them? Jesus was focused on teaching His followers the Way of the Kingdom of God.
To watch the full teaching, scroll down to the link at the end of the post.
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:1-3, NKJV, emphasis added)
A Little Background
We’re in Ephesus. Paul briefly shared the Good News in Ephesus on his second missionary trip.
“Stay with us longer, Paul,” the Ephesians begged.
“I’ll be back,” Paul responded.
Back. he came. He returned on his third missionary trip and met some disciples there, but something was missing.
Paul asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
“We haven’t heard of the Holy Spirit.”
It’s time to share the Good News, Paul.
Paul shared the Good News. And when they heard that the Messiah had come to save us from our sins AND that He had risen from the dead, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Can you see these people after they were baptized?
“Paul, tell us more. What else don’t we know?”
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:8-10 NKJV, emphasis added)
Proclaim the Way
“And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8 NKJV, emphasis added))
Every Sabbath for three months, Paul shared the Good News of Jesus in the synagogue. He boldly proclaimed the Kingdom of God. This was a long time for the people to allow Paul to teach in the synagogue. Opposition usually caused him to go elsewhere to share the Gospel within a week or two.
Notice that Paul boldly spoke about the Kingdom of God. Boldly speaking in freedom from fear even in the face of opposition. Paul was passionate about sharing the Kingdom of God. AND his bold sharing was respectful.
He reasoned with those who would listen. The word for “reason” indicates that he and the Ephesians exchanged ideas in thoughtful and respectful discussions.
Reasoning led to persuasion. Paul mingled his thoughts and questions with the thoughts and questions of the disciples and led them to the truth of God’s kingdom. Persuasion about the things of the Kingdom of God.
How are we reasoning and persuading others about the kingdom of God?
“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you [or in your midst].” (Luke 17:20-21 NKJV, emphasis added)
In other words, the kingdom is where the King is. The Creator of the heavens and earth, the Savior of the world, Christ Jesus is the King of Kings! Wherever He is, there is His Kingdom!
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who sits on the throne of your heart. You may be surprised. With Jesus on the throne of our hearts, we can walk in the Way of the Kingdom of God.
Walk in the Way
“But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9 NKJV).
Opposition always follows. We can count on it. Paul was used to it. Unbelievers hardened their hearts and opposed the Way.
That opposition opened the door to a more intense ministry. Paul and the disciples left the synagogue and continued to meet in the school of Tyrannus. DAILY!
They walked away from the kingdom of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They withdrew from the kingdom of the world … walking away from the kingdom of man and walking this life focused on the Kingdom of God.
Jesus always focused on the Kingdom of God and God’s purpose for Him … AND FOR THE WORLD!
What was God’s purpose for Jesus?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
God’s purpose was to send Jesus into the world to pay the price you and I owe for our sins. Jesus came to show the Way of the Kingdom of God. He is the Way, and the cross stood on the Way.
Jesus told His disciples about the cross and His death. He promised them that He was going away to prepare a place for them.
Jesus is the Way
“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:4-6 NKJV)
The Way? Jesus is the Way! He is the Truth! He is the Life!
Are you totally focused on Jesus? Really?
Have you read Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti? The authors claim that men address one thing at a time, like stepping into one waffle square and taking care of that issue and then going to the next square.
Spaghetti? I’ve got much going on—thinking about everything I need to get done. You, too? Sometimes, I let the things of this world cause me to stray off the Way of the Kingdom of God. Lovingly, our heavenly Father taps me on the shoulder, takes me by the hand and leads me back to His Way, the Way of God’s Kingdom. I trust those taps on my shoulder.
What has caused God to tap you on the shoulder and redirect you? Did you trust the tap and refocus?
Trust in the Way
“And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” (Acts 19:10 NKJV)
Paul reasoned with the people every day in the school of Tyrannus. A Greek manuscript indicates that Paul reasoned with the disciples every day between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hours to rest from the heat.
Paul had no time to rest during the heat of the day like the rest of the Ephesians.
Can you see Paul? Wiping the sweat from his face with a cloth, slowly untying his apron, and walking to the school. On the way, he’s praying, trusting that the Holy Spirit will give him the energy, the passion, and the words that will penetrate the hearts of those who show up.
And what about those who gave up their rest to hear what Paul had to teach that day? They were hungry for more of the Word. The followers saw Paul’s passion for the Way of the Kingdom. They saw his sacrifice, and they sacrificed their rest to be fed the Word of God. Learning how to walk the Way of the Kingdom of God was their focus. God abundantly blessed them with more of Himself. And they picked up nuggets to share with others as they traveled throughout Asia.
Hunger, sacrifice, devotion … that’s the Kingdom Way. When we walk the Way of the Kingdom of God, others notice and are changed.
The people in the region were changed, and others noticed.
Have others noticed that you are walking differently than the way of the world? What are they noticing?
God Working
From verses 11 to 20, we see God working changing the lives of the men and women.
Miraculously healings occurred.
Jewish exorcists tried to cast out an evil spirit in the “name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Verse 15 tells us that the evil spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” and attacked the exorcists. They weren’t walking the Way of the Kingdom of God but the way of the world. They didn’t know Jesus!
Magic Burned
After this, the name of Jesus was magnified throughout the region. And the people were convicted of their magic practices.
Magic was deeply rooted in everyday life in Ephesus. The Ephesians believed that there was a magical solution for every problem. The magic books, tablets, charm bracelets, and much more spelled out solutions for sickness, romance, who would win the chariot races. You name it.
But the new believers brought their sorcery books with formulas, spells, and astrological forecasts to one place and burned them.
Picture the flames of thousands of magic books in the middle of the square—books worth between $1 and $5 million.
Why did they have to burn their books?
The magic books symbolized the way of the world, a focus on self. On the Way of the Kingdom of God our focus turns to God, and His love, His holiness, His power that transforms lives.
What do you need to get rid of? Reading your daily horoscope? A Ouija board?
“So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” (Acts 19:20 NKJV)
How can the Word of the Lord grow mightily and prevail in your life?
Focus on the Way
What if we imagined the Way as a path filled with nuggets that represent how we change our focus along the Way?
We pick up a nugget one at a time and reflect on its truth.
Jesus is the Way and that way is Truth (not the world’s truth, God’s perfect truth). Jesus is Truth! The Way is life. Jesus gave up His life so that we might live with Him forever!
We find mercy, forgiveness, grace, hope, strength, Jesus!
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us as we walk the Way of the Kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)
The Nugget-filled Way
Nuggest fill the Way. I’ve just mentioned a few.
When we began, I asked you what you noticed about the Kingdom of God that reminded you of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday as you studied Acts 19.
Jesus came into the world to proclaim the Kingdom of God was at hand. He came so that all those who turn from their sins and cling to Him in belief, would enjoy eternal life with Him, for He is life.
Knowing that Jesus took your sins and my sins upon Himself on the cross and God’s placed His wrath upon those sins.
Knowing that Jesus paid the price that we owe for those sins.
Knowing that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus into the world to pay for our sins and take God’s wrath upon the sins laid on Jesus—wrath that we deserve.
Knowing that Jesus gave up His Spirit and died.
Knowing that Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb for three days.
Knowing that Jesus rose from the dead and walked, talked, ate, and taught His followers for 40 days after His resurrection. At least once, 500 followers saw Him at one time.
Knowing that Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God and speak on our behalf when Satan accuses us of our sins.
Knowing that one day those who believe in Jesus and have surrendered their lives to the King of Kings will one day see His face.
Knowing this self-sacrificing love that showed us the Way to walk in the Kingdom of God, how should you and I live?
Points to Ponder
- Are you walking in the way of the world or the Way of the Kingdom of God? What’s your evidence?
- Ask the Holy Spirit right now to redirect your focus to the Kingdom of God. What nuggets will you find along the Way?
May you “walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” [1 Thessalonians 2:12b ESV]
Video of the Teaching
“The Way of the Kingdom of God” Meditation
Please Share Your Ideas