During the preaching, we'll ask the Lord to bless it by His Holy Spirit, and then we'll sing Psalter 308, which will be like a summary of the whole sermon in song. Dear congregation belonging to Christ, have any of you ever been caught up in or even involved in some riot of sorts? I'm thinking probably very few here, if any. Yet, you know, riots are quite common in our day and throughout history. I mean, where a crowd comes together and the people are all in a frenzy and there's pushing and there's shouting and even acts of violence against the police and others, often with a riot. There can be a lot of confusion and quite a number in the crowd not really realizing even what all the excitement is all about, but somehow joining in with it anyways, trapped in it, perhaps even unawares. Even this past year, there have been riots in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, maybe even Lethbridge. And you know, with all the political upheaval in our days, especially in the USA, we may expect more riots, no doubt, in our cities and universities, in North America and other places. A riot can be a scary place, a scary and unruly thing for sure. And it's right to say, isn't it, a Christian should never be caught up in a mad riot for whatever reason. While a respectful public protest, participating in that for a God-honoring reason or cause in our free and democratic society may sometimes be not out of order, and very much in order even, in general, we don't promote getting involved in riots. Well, why mention a riot, especially in a sermon in church? It's because our text in Acts 19 mentions a large and mad, potentially violent riot that happened in Ephesus so long ago. Do you know what that riot was about and who it was against? It was an uproar against Christians by heathen idol worshipers, and particularly an all-out attack against the expanding gospel ministry of the Apostle Paul and his co-workers. As we shall learn, it was one more devilish attempt to stop the advance of the Christian church and the kingdom of God. But once again, it was in vain. God's church and kingdom prevailed and spread far and wide from Jerusalem to Rome and to the ends of the earth. Nevertheless, whatever happened, It's so encouraging to learn from our text passage this evening, dear congregation. Listen, God is the supreme ruler on the throne. And He has promised to take care of His church through every generation till the last day. And the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Indeed, also very much in our times, our perilous times. And it very much reinforces, too, as we saw just recently with Jesus' birth and His first coming as a Christ child in Bethlehem. And we know He's coming again. What did the angels say to the shepherds when He came? What did the angels say in God's name? Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, Christ the ruler supreme. So our theme from the text passage of Acts 19 this evening, which we read together, is the triumph of Christianity over all false religions and really all opposition of any kind. O come, let us learn about this together. seeing this, in fact, as unfolded in our text chapter in the story told, and as detailed in verses 35 to 36, and then as confirmed in Paul's continued ambassador for Christ mission. With our first thought to see unfolded in our text chapter the actual triumph over all false religions and whatever might oppose God's church and kingdom, we need to take a larger context of our passage. in mind. Paul has been in Ephesus for about three years according to chapter 20 verse 31. In his third missionary journey, serving there as preacher and pastor of the gospel in Ephesus for three years about. And with the Lord graciously granting much fruit on his gospel labors with his team. The first part of Acts 19, we didn't read it, but it tells of wonderful fruit. People burned bad books. People responded to the gospel in large numbers. And it was a great time of great success on the gospel ministry and gospel outreach. And verse 20 gives kind of the conclusion about that. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. In the Greek, literally it says God's word under the blessing of God kept on growing mightily and kept on prevailing, spreading, and succeeding in different areas. In other words, it was a very encouraging time. And there was ongoing growth, numerically and spiritually, in the Christian church in Ephesus, an area. In fact, Demetrius says, in verse 26, I believe, we read that he said, in concern about Paul's preaching, he said, not only in Ephesus, but throughout all Asia, Paul's preaching is having impact and it needs to be stopped. Under Paul's preaching and those working with him, many people were truly converted and under the preaching of Christ, crucified and risen again. He was made known as the one and only Savior by whom we must be saved. And you all know that, don't you, that there is only one and only Savior, you heard it this morning, by whom we must be saved, if we're going to be saved. And if we're going to live God-honoring lives before the Lord and in true love to our neighbor, the fruit of true conversion by God's grace and spirit was so much taking root in Ephesus and surrounding area that we are told it began to affect the society. It began to affect even the false temple worship that was so popular and well-known in Ephesus. That city, located in the country of Turkey, today had a world-famous temple to the goddess or idol god Diana of the Ephesians, also known as the Temple of Artemis, using the Greek term. And this city, it thrived economically on the tourists who came to that temple, which in that day was viewed as one of the seven wonders of the world, of the ancient world. I read it took over 250 years to build that temple. Just imagine that. That's like four or five generations. It was a huge temple covering an area of 425 feet. long by 220 feet wide with 127 white marble pillars that were 62 feet high, all about four feet apart. Just the ruins of that temple still today are something magnificent to see, apparently. Maybe some of you have seen it even. This temple of Ephesus for the idol god Diana, it was a tourist attraction for that time. for the world at that time. And many also went there to worship this Diana, this idol god. The idol itself was, we can say, a lifeless, grotesque image of a multi-breasted woman. Multi-breasted, symbolizing that she was the goddess of life and fertility. associated with the temple worship of goddess Diana was apparently a piece of meteorite rock that came from the sky. They said it came from Jupiter or from Zeus, because it came from the sky, from heaven. And it was linked to the worship of Diana in the temple. She was said to be a god that came from heaven. Mentioned in 35, verse 35. We'll come back to that later. Every year or two in the spring, there would be a one-month religious festival in honor of this Diana and her temple, where people from all over the then-known world would flock to, and they came to worship there, to be there. Like people come every year to Calgary Stampede, you might say. Well, it could very well be that exactly during this festival month when it was extra crowded and a bustling, busy time that the event of our text chapter took place. What took place? Well, just when matters in the church life were so flourishing and Paul himself was thinking that it was time for him maybe to travel on. Yes, first to Jerusalem, he says, to give the gifts from the missionary churches that Paul and his team had planted for the poverty-stricken Christians there in Jerusalem. But then Paul also planned from there to travel to Rome and even to Spain, hopefully, in the spread of the gospel. And it was while Paul was so planning this with so much blessing on the ministry, all A threatening storm and a riotous attack came up against God's cause. Very dangerous, for sure. You know, the devil is a roaring lion, always looking out to see who and how he might devour Christians and the Christian church, how he might attack and destroy and overcome God's church and kingdom. He's a vicious foe, and often that sly serpent of old, he works his craft and woe just when things are going so well, too. just when there was and is blessing on the preaching and ministry of the gospel in the churches and community at large. Oh, congregation, you know it. Satan is a relentless and fearsome, sly enemy of Christ and His church and kingdom. And if we are wise, we never underestimate the devil's plots and plans. Even though he's a once-for-all defeated foe, for sure, when Jesus crushed his head on the cross of Calvary, yet the devil will still fight on. The Bible tells us, God's Word tells us, yes, in endless hate and mad resistance against Christ and his church till the last day, as also Revelation 12 makes so clear. Oh, in view of the devil always, dear congregation. And you believe in the devil, don't you? You believe in Jesus, that Jesus is real. You need to believe the Bible's message that the devil is real. And I say in view of the devil, we need to put on the whole armor of God individually and also as congregation. We need to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and overcome him. Yes, young people and children, you too. Are we, you and I, each taking care about this as seriously as we might and should? Or not so for you? For sure, no one of us, and I include myself, can afford to be at ease in Zion. Not at any time, and especially not in the last times in which we are living. Might I recommend a book or two to you in resisting the devil? Thomas Brooks wrote a book, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices. And then you have Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and Holy War by John Bunyan. You have Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and Dr. Joel Beakey wrote a book, Striving Against Satan. Maybe it's good if you would read them, if you could. In this case, our text passage, we are told that the devilish source of the sudden trouble and fierce attack and riot that broke out in Ephesus was a person named Demetrius. So just when missionary Paul was thinking to move on from Ephesus, then as told us in verse 23, at that time there arose no small stir about that way. And that way refers, congregation, to the way of Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Christians were those who followed the way. Christians walked by the way, by Jesus. And this Demetrius, we're told, he was a craftsman with silver. And he was a union leader in Ephesus of the craftsmen. And Demetrius had a major problem with Paul and real grievance against his gospel teaching and preaching. And you know why especially? Well, he and his company of workers, as silver craftsmen, they with others made huge profits on the sale of, there's silver images, smaller ones, bigger ones, medium ones, of Diana and of the magnificent temple of Ephesus in Ephesus. Just like today when you go to the airport, you can buy little miniature planes to give to your loved ones if you want. Or when you go to any world attraction, you can pick up some souvenir of sorts about that attraction. So this Demetrius and his clan, they made big dollars on making and selling small shrines and images and trinkets all connected with the temple of Diana. But now you see what was happening through the preaching of the gospel by Paul and his missionary team. Well, sales started slowing down. And little by little, they made less money. Because, you see, the Christian gospel way that was preached on the basis of God's Word made it clear that we shouldn't serve and worship idol gods, for there be no gods at all which are made with human hands. And in fact, there is only one true God, the Christian God, the God of the Holy Bible, as ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. So Demetrius, he spoke to his fellow workers how Paul's preaching and teaching was not only bringing down their trade, but also It was bringing increasing disregard for Diana and the great temple of the Ephesians. Their religion was being threatened, he said, and the great temple of Ephesus, that world attraction in their famous city, for the same reason was all being undermined, said Demetrius, by the preaching of this apostle Paul. We have to do something about this, he told his fellow workers. We need to stop what Paul and his missionary team are doing here. And the result of the speech of Demetrius was that he got his fellow workers all riled up. Demetrius was mostly concerned about money, but he put religion with it, hypocritically, to rile them up. When you touch a person's money matters and religious practices and vain pride, how suddenly people can break out in a frenzy. And the group listening to Demetrius, we are told in verse 28, became full of wrath about what they were told was happening. And they cried out and kept crying, almost screaming and yelling even, great is the hand of the Ephesians. And in their growing excitement, The group moved out of the meeting place where they were and they made their way through the main street in Ephesus to the grandstands of the theater, the city amphitheater that could seat, I'm told, more than 25,000 people. What? Were they going to burn Christians at the stake there or throw them to the lions? Understandably, with all the noise we're told to, people started joining them, and soon there was a huge crowd together, a mob, where many didn't even know what the commotion was about. That's one of the devil's real big tactics. He wants to get us all excited about something when we don't even really know what we're excited about. He's a master of confusion, strife, and division. We read in verse 32, some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part, meaning the majority of them, knew not wherefore they were come together. That is not untypical of many riots throughout history to the present day. And again, if this riot took place in time of the annual festival, the Goddess Diana festival, as could well be, there's no doubt there would have been many people drinking too much, so being drunk and just complicating the confusion and the wildness all the more. Well, we're told, on the way to the amphitheater, the leaders of the riot grabbed two men, who just happened to be around, who were part of Paul's team, Gaius and Aristarchus, and they were recent members of Paul's team, it seems, and everything became more and more dangerous and intense, like a hockey fight brawl going out of hand. Well, we are told in verse 30 to 31 that Paul himself, when he hears about this all, he wants to go to help the co-workers and help clarify the gospel message, but his own fellow disciples say, no, no, Paul, it's too dangerous out there. And not only his own fellow disciples, but some friends who were kind of leaders in the community, in the city, they also said, don't go there, Paul. You're only gonna make matters worse. Things are so hot out there, you need to stay away from there. But Paul was a caring disciple, caring apostle, but he was held back. He was held back by God's providence. One wrong move in that mad and rash crowd and a thousand hands would have torn the apostle and his companions limb from limb. It was a terrifying scene. We are told in verse 33 and following how some Jews in the crowd tried to take advantage of the angry response against Paul and his Christian gospel by pushing out in front Alexander to, as it were, tell of their disapproval as well of Paul and his gospel message of Nazareth. The Jews also didn't want the religion of Paul, the Orthodox Jews. But that ploy to get Alexander to speak, that didn't work either, we're told. For even as the Jew Alexander gets pushed forward and is known that he is a Jew, we're told, therefore, as a Jew, not a worshiper of the idol God, Diana, then the whole mad, excited crowd just drowns him out as this Alexander motions to say something. All the crowd begins shouting with one voice, great is Diana of the Ephesians, verse 34. And they so shouted and chanted for about two whole hours, the text says. Well, I sat in my study and I thought, huh, what would that be like? So I tried it for one minute. How many times would you say, great is Diana, the god of the Ephesians, in two whole hours? Well, I said it about 26 times in one minute. Then I multiplied 26 times one minute times 120 minutes, so at least 3,000 times. 3,000 times they kept shouting, great is Diana of the Ephesians. Can you picture it? Can you hear it in your minds? It was wild. It was an explosive situation that had developed. Many Christians could have been killed in that setting, and Paul and his remaining co-workers in Ephesus also taken and slain or stoned right then and there. But thankfully, that didn't happen. We can say, really, we can say God didn't allow that to happen. Instead, we're told a town official, notice, a nameless city clerk, with some authority, stepped in by God's providence, and he was used by the Lord to bring order and calm to the riotous, ungodly, wicked, dangerous crowd. He told them they were acting very irresponsibly. And God used him to bring order to a very disorderly situation. Dear congregation, what we have to see here is that in the book of Acts, all about the advance of the Christian church, regardless whatever opposition against it, we need to see the hand of God intervening once and time and again for good and for the protection and extension of Christ's church and kingdom, no matter what devilish plots might be against it. Is this not the wonder of God's mercy and power in the history of the world ever since the fall into sin? About God's announcement of the promised redeemer and his care for his people. The acts of God, the book of Acts is sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles, but it's the acts of God through his apostles as they preach the word faithfully. And this is what we need to know over and over again. Satan schemes and he plots and this ungodly world wickedly assists to drown out God and his people and our own sinful flesh also by nature fails to stand up all too often against a flood of evil overwhelming us. But yet, yet God triumphs over it all. He triumphs over it all. Nothing is going to stop His plan, His provision, His protection of His church. In our last Bible study, we're doing a series on the book of Genesis in Calgary. And our last chapter in December was on Genesis 34 where Jacob and his family were in Shechem. And if you read that chapter, it's an awful chapter. And it seems like Jacob and his family would be swallowed up by their own sins and their permissive worldliness and the danger of either compromising with the Canaanites or the Canaanites completely overthrowing them. But God didn't allow it. God for his own namesake intervened and he saved and protected them even in Shechem. Yes, and on many other occasions as well. This is the history of the church. It's his story. History is about his story. Defending, preserving His people. And don't we find the same indeed throughout the Bible? So many satanic plots and attacks against God's redemptive plans and against His redeemed people, yet in the fullness of time it came to pass that Christ was born just as God triune had always planned and foretold. Even the three King Herods in the New Testament who resisted Jesus Christ and His cause in different ways, each and all failed. in their vain attempts to kill Jesus and to squash His church and kingdom. We have to say, congregation, even the wrath of this ungodly world and Satan's ongoing attacks to the end, also in our day, only serve for God's church and kingdom to expand and prosper still. Though sometimes it might not seem like it. As we sing in Psalter 208, based on Psalm 76, quote, the wrath of man shall praise the Lord, restrained by His almighty will. Now very strikingly and climatically, we see the ultimate triumph of God's people over against Satan and his countless plots in Revelation 20, verse 9 to 10. There we are told about the one last final attempt of Satan and his followers. to get and to squash the church once for all. And what happened in that chapter, Revelation 20, when Satan and his followers, as the text says, come past, that is, surrounded the camp of the saints about and the beloved city. Oh no, now what? It looked like Satan had them in his hands. But then the next line of scripture reads and declares, and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them, and the devil and that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever." Just what it looked like. Respectfully speaking, God's people would become toast, as the term is used. It was the other way around. The devil and all his followers, they became toast literally under the fire of God's wrath. And how good to know this, don't you think? Also personally, in our own lives. Have you not experienced it? By God's grace, looking back on your life. I mean, also for you. How many times? Isn't it so? Hasn't the Lord intervened graciously and mercifully and with almighty power in your life so that today, this day, yes, instead of hopelessly living in evil and blindness, being overcome by evildoers, you have been delivered again and again, and you're spared, and you're protected, so that even now, this first Sunday of the new year, you're coming to church, maybe not only once, but twice, to hear the wonderful words of life, because it's food for your soul. It's wonderful words of life about Jesus, the Savior of sinners. Also for you and for me, I can tell you, dear congregation, I am standing here now as a minister of the gospel. Only because, only because God has not left me to myself in this dangerous, demonic world with my totally depraved, wicked, and blind heart by nature, won't all true Christians humbly have this same testimony also here among us now, but for the grace of God. And coming back to our text passage, think of it, all the wicked world and ungodly religions and Satan himself, what can they really do? All they can really do is but hopelessly and foolishly shout themselves hoarse, even for hours. Their hysterical screams achieved nothing, but as one put it, it's the only thing heathenism can do against Paul and Christianity, to shout themselves hoarse to no end and to no avail. In fact, they were endangering their own health. no doubt, as well as their citizenship and favor with Rome in so acting in such a chaotic and disorderly and unreasonable, wild manner, as the town clerk later told them in verse 40. Dear congregation, if anyone here among us, if you here are still lost in your sins and sinfulness and a stranger to grace and not belonging to Christ, Jesus, the only Savior, won't you come to Him today without delay, even as we start a new year? For as our text passage makes so very clear, you and I are only always on the winning side when trusting and following Jesus as our Savior and Lord. But to live on apart from Him is death. That is, it means you so living and dying will be left to perish eternally. in your sins and sinfulness under God's righteous judgment and forever resident with Satan and all the wicked and unbelieving in eternal hell. Is that what you want? For your future? And the world to come? No. No. And why would anyone here so respond to our text passage with such ongoing indifference and unbelief? For coming to our second main thought, now notice in reinforcement of our sermon theme based on the text, the triumph of Christianity over all false religions and every opposition really, don't we just see that not just as unfolded in our text chapter story, but as especially detailed in verses 35 and 36. Having recalled the story of this uproar in Ephesus somewhat, let's now think about its significance in the book of Acts and the whole Bible. Luke surely wrote about this uproar to proclaim reasons all the more, to receive the gospel, to respect the gospel, to rely on the gospel. And to see this more, just listen in comparison to what the town clerk says about Diana compared to Christianity, about Jesus. Ye men of Ephesus, he writes, he says, verse 35, what man is there that knows not that the city of Ephesus is a worshiper, literally temple guardian or temple keepers, even some translations, temple sweepers of the great goddess Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter or from heaven. Seeing that these things cannot be spoken against or denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. Now, here, reflect on these words a while with me. Children and young people, you too. Just compare these words about idol goddess Diana to the incomparable Savior, Jesus Christ, Son of God. Notice the statement that so brings out how foolish and vain the false religion of the Diana Temple. The town clerk calls the city of Ephesus the worshippers, and again, more literally, the temple guardians, temple keepers, temple sweepers. of the great goddess of Diana, almost suggesting, do you see that with me, as if the city of Ephesus wasn't there to maintain that temple and to uphold its worship, well then it likely wouldn't and couldn't survive on its own either. You see, it seems like great goddess Diana is dependent on the Ephesians. Whereas if she's a God worthy of worship, that shouldn't be so, should it? A true God should have worshippers, but its existence can't depend on those worshippers, can it? For if that be the case, what kind of a God is that? Do you see this with me, how it makes you laugh almost? Sadly so. So much for the great goddess of Diana, a lifeless and useless idol god on its own. How different and so much infinitely grander and glorious is Jesus Christ, the divine Savior of sinners, the God-given Savior who we are called to worship. He's not dependent on anything from us or outside of himself in any way. No, never. And yet, He is merciful, faithful, sovereign, almighty, gracious Savior. And He calls all mankind always to depend on Him, on Him alone, to receive out of His fullness grace for grace. What a comparison, and then notice this further. What the town clerk says, so exalting actually Christ above all false religions, even though he seems very clearly to be a follower of Diana himself. What further does he say about Diana, goddess idol worship and religion? He mentioned in connection with Diana, the image which fell down from the sky and Greek mythology, they were thinking about from Jupiter or Zeus, and it means just from the sky. This image apparently refers to a sacred stone which was said to be like a meteorite that fell from heaven which was part and parcel of the Ephesus Diana cult worship. It could be that this rock fell down and they carved and chiseled it and made this idol god Diana out of it. Now again, take this in. We read in Isaiah 14 about demon angel Lucifer falling from heaven. Cast out there by God at some point, and not thereby gaining any power. No, but losing ultimately all power. When Jesus was here on earth, he sent his 70 disciples out to preach the gospel, and they come back to report that great things happened, and Jesus says, I saw Satan falling from heaven as lightning. Not meaning that Satan was gaining power. No, but he was losing his power. He was finished. He was a defeated foe. We read in Revelation 18, Babylon has fallen, Babylon has fallen. The great city has fallen. That didn't mean Babylon was still doing great. No, Babylon was done. She was finished. But in this case, think of it, it's a stony piece of rock that falls from the sky as a hard, helpless, lifeless object, and think of it, it's self-subject to the laws of gravity, and they make that to become part and parcel of their worship, their false religion of the so-called great goddess of Diane. I mean, how ludicrous, how utterly ridiculous and irrational when you think it through. It's not much different than the Muslims going to Mecca to go around a big black rock to throw stones at it as the ultimate spiritual experience. But compare this with what's said in our text compared to the gospel. Think of Jesus coming to this earth in so different manner. He came as consciously, most lovingly sent by God the Father. And He Himself came most willingly and conscientiously, giving Himself to serve as Savior of sinners. And He didn't helplessly fall down to this earth, but He was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, that He might exactly serve as the perfect Savior, even for such vile sinners like you and me. What a Savior! What a Savior! And He's Immanuel, God with us, come to seek and to save the lost. And Jesus coming to this earth, dear congregation, was all part of a divine, eternal plan of salvation from the triune God. And it was a part of an almighty, most merciful, loving accomplishment, making Him so worthy of our endless worship and praise, not illogically so, but most reasonably so. And think of it, when Jesus finished His work and He arose, then He, against the laws of gravity, ascended into heaven as a mighty Savior and blessed Redeemer of His people, as many as were given to Him by the Father, as many as would repent and believe on Him. What a comparison. There's no comparison. And plus this, notice further how totally wrong the town clerk was in what he asserted in verses 35 and 36. He said, what man is there that knows not about the goddess Diana in Ephesus and that the truths about this great idol god just cannot be spoken against or denied? while used by God, yes, to calm the mad riotous crowd with these words, yet his words proved really to be so mistaken. Don't you think? Isn't it so? I mean, he was saying, as another noted, that there was nothing that Christian preachers could do that could possibly affect the great goddess of Diana, and that it was undeniable that her reputation was most secure, no doubt about it. Yet today, I ask you, who worships the old-time idol, the great goddess Diana of the Ephesians? I venture to say, as far as I know, very, very few. Perhaps some satanic witchcraft cult, maybe here and there. I did read of the Temple of Diana in Ephesus that, quote, it's now in ruins. with only foundations and fragments remaining. And I read too that the original statue of Diana is said to have crumbled while waiting to be transported to London in the 6th century. But our God, he never crumbles. He never fails. He never falters. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. And think of it, how many millions and millions and millions of people all over the world, more than we know, worship the one true God, as told us about in the Bible and revealed to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Savior of sinners. And are there not Christian churches all around the world? where people gather to worship Christ the Lord, the one true God. Well, do you see how, when you compare all this, how our text highlights, in spite of the attacks against Christianity, the truthfulness and the uniqueness and the wonderfulness of the Christian faith and of our Savior God over against all these idol gods and false religions around the world? We shouldn't miss either. How our text passage so brings out, it wasn't the Christians who were breaking the laws of the land and disrupting the tranquility of the social order of the day, but it was those who were opposing the Christian gospel way who were the revolutionaries and the real troublemakers. Demetrius and his upset group were spreading falsehoods about Christians as if they were the active rebels of the day when it was the exact opposite. was the exact opposite. The Christians were law-abiding citizens and residents, even when proclaiming and promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ, while their opponents were the lawless and riotous ones, up to no good and only out for themselves, and using their money interests and having a religious cloak around it to promote their cause. How much we can learn, congregation as an aside almost, from how Christians should live in an ungodly, idolatrous world still today from our text passage. As one well said in connection with this, quote, the success of the gospel under God's blessing was also the church's and the Christian's use of proper spiritual means. The Ephesian believers did not lobby the city authorities, nor pick at the silversmith shops, or organize demonstrations against the Diana Temple and Diana worship. They did not try to be popular, rather they just simply preached and lived out the gospel message, and let the power of their changed lives by the Holy Spirit, filling them with Christ, confront and push out the old ways. and show the futility of the old ways compared to Christ. Yes, and isn't that so instructive for us as Christians and believers in our 21st century, living also in our secular, idolatrous, immoral world today? So altogether, do you see with me how our text passage so clearly shows and proves the triumph over Christianity, over all false religions? Really it does. If you and I will be wise, won't we follow diligently and steadfastly and happily Christ as the way, the truth, and the life for true and everlasting blessing for now and forever? In case you still waver about the triumph of Christianity over all false religions, even though we have seen it unfolded in this chapter story, and we've seen it in the details of verses 35 to 36, consider yet how it's further confirmed in Paul's continuing ambassador for Christ mission. This is beautiful to see too. Doesn't it come out so loud and clear in our text passage? You can't miss it, and if you miss it, it's because you're being stubbornly unwilling to hear it. Notice, the conclusion of the text story is that Paul leaves Ephesus, after all, as he had planned earlier, but before he leaves, what are we told in chapter 20? After the uproar was ceased, he met with the missionary team. He would leave behind, and he embraced them. And we can believe, can't we? In embracing them, He so encouraged them to keep on keeping on, keep on keeping on, trusting Christ Jesus and holding Him high as only Savior and Lord. And don't be afraid, His cause will triumph. And then notice verse two of chapter 20, as Paul journeys to Jerusalem and on along the way to further with the gospel, to go further with the gospel ministry, he was so confident it would come under God's blessing. As he goes further, we're told in verse two, He encouraged or exhorted fellow Christians with many words. I would love to hear those many words, as our text puts it. And had given them much exhortation, much encouragement. Many gospel words of hope and promise concerning God's church and kingdom. He spoke to them. We can be sure at how faith and faithfulness in the Christian way is never in vain. Though it sometimes may seem like it, it's never in vain. while all else is most vain indeed. Once more, if anyone here is still worshiping the idol gods of today, those idol gods of our own making, won't you learn from this passage? Won't you turn today, being shown from our scriptures the utter folly of that way and the infinite wisdom of God's true religion in Christ? Don't deceive yourselves either. Like the people of Ephesus tried to do, no doubt they would say, well, our God, she's come from heaven too. Just like you say you Christians, your God's come from heaven, so is our God. He's not of human design. He literally came down from heaven. He fell from heaven. You see, that was all devilishly false and wicked rationalizing against the truth. Oh, no, dear congregation, one and all, by God's grace, let us by God's grace and spirit be witnesses of the gospel truth in thought, word, and deed. Yes, at home and in church and at school and at work and in our local neighborhoods and around the world. And soon enough, we will see it. And everyone else will see it too. All true worshippers of Christ Jesus and all his gospel word, they are the victorious ones. While all opposed to him, they are the forever lost ones, if they will so live and die in sin and unbelief. After all, to Christ our Savior alone belongs all honor and glory, together with God the Father and God the Spirit. His is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever. The Lord reigns as the years come and go and as the devil still works so much. Yes, but regardless all opposition to Him, He reigns and His promises continue. Be encouraged then with our text from Acts 19. His is the kingdom and the power and the glory forevermore. And who knows how soon all the world will bend the knee before Christ the Lord, either willingly or unwillingly. What about you in this regard? And let sinners be warned from Acts 19 to submit to God triune in and through Jesus Christ while yet in the day of grace. And let God's people so rejoice in this sure triumph of the Lord also from our text passage while we're still in the good fight of faith on this side of heaven till our last breath. For myself, congregation, I am so encouraged by Acts 19, telling of a riot against God's cause that served ultimately in promotion of God's cause. Aren't you too? I want to say to you as I end, there's every reason for us to say, maybe for 15 minutes, maybe for two hours, great is the Lord! and greatly to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable." Will you say it even a few times tonight? Amen. Let's pray. Oh Lord, the way of this world and the way of idol worship is so in vain. But trusting and following you, though the devil attacks and though sometimes we can wonder, Lord, help us to be encouraged to believe. Trusting you and seeking together to live by the Word of God and the will of God, we shall persevere and we shall triumph. Not because we are so good, but because you are so faithful. You remember your cause. And you are faithful to your promises till the last day. Lord, help us to learn from our sermon the utter folly of all false worship and the sure wisdom of all true worship. Blessed by your Holy Spirit that we all be true worshipers and that we all do say, Great is the Lord, and great need to be praised. His greatness is unsearchable, and may we never tire to testify of that truth. Oh, bless us all. Forgive our sins even in worship. Help us as we go into this new year. Help us as we were exhorted also this morning to know, to Have this conviction he Jesus must increase, but I must decrease Lord So lead us by your spirit and word in the way everlasting and bless us that we may be an encouragement to each other in this gospel way in Jesus name Amen Psalter 301