THE NAME OF JESUS GETS TOP BILLING
ACTS 19:17-20
ACTS 19:17-20 NKJ
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
OBSERVATION:
Paul was used of God to do some powerful things in the city of Ephesus.
He starts with a small group of John the Baptists' disciples by helping them receive Jesus and then become baptized in the Holy Spirit. Verses one through seven give credence to receiving the Holy Spirit after becoming a believer in Jesus as Savior.
That first encounter was with twelve men, but then we see God's word beginning to spread and amazing things taking place. Miracles and deliverance from demonic forces were happening, and God was using Paul to accomplish these things.
But verse 17 is a great example of what should happen. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Notice it was not the name of Paul that was being exalted. People may have known Paul, but evidently, Paul made sure that it was Jesus who deserved the credit and the glory. Paul must have made this clear to all the new believers in Ephesus. Even though this city may have been one of Paul's greatest ministry impacts. People were getting saved and renouncing their past lives. They even had a black magic book burning that represented a significant amount of expensive books being burned. This was a bonafide revival. But the name of the Lord Jesus was the One being magnified, not Paul.
Verse twenty tells us the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Once again, it was God's word, not Paul's preaching, that was highlighted.
We can make a good case for this Ephesus revival staying strong and effective because Jesus was being magnified, not a man.
APPLICATION:
It is way too easy in our celebrity culture of today to exalt man. Actually, this is not as much of a cultural problem as it is a preoccupation with the flesh. Paul had to correct the Corinthian church on this same issue.
Our job is to always point to Jesus. It is His word, His Holy Spirit, His power, His salvation. All of us are simply vessels He uses to bless and help others, but He is the only one deserving of glory. Jesus always has top billing. The rest of us are supporting cast.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, show me how I can better glorify You in my life. You deserve the credit. All the credit!