By Martha Bailey Does Satan ever mess with you?  Of course, he does.  He is the epitome of evil and has been since the beginning of time. He’s the master of lies and distortion. His goal is to destroy. He does not relinquish his territory without putting up a fight. He chooses his accomplices very carefully. He often uses greed to motivate people to do his dirty work. Let’s look at Satan in Acts 19, and observe him using his age-old tactics which he still employs today very effectively. While on his third missionary journey, the apostle Paul made a stop at Ephesus. Typically, he targeted urban areas for his ministry, and Ephesus fit the strategy. Ephesus was known for its commercial and religious significance.  Commercially, it was a booming port city strategically located on a major east-west trade route in Asia.  Religiously, it was the home of the temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world.  People came from all over the Roman Empire worship to see the magnificent structure and to worship the fertility goddess, Artemis. Paul conducted a very fruitful ministry in Ephesus.  Initially, he began his work among the Jews in the synagogue.  However, three years later opposition arose … [Read more...]