In my last post, I showed how the Apostle Paul had this one all-consuming passion, to make much of Jesus (see Gal 6:14)! Let’s have a little deeper look at this and see how, this primary and central concern of the Apostle Paul was being outworked by God among his people in the book of Acts. Take a read of Acts 19:8-17.
So what’s going on here? Paul is going about his mission to make much of Jesus and has found himself in Ephesus. Both through his deliberate teaching in the hall of Tyrannus and through the supernatural power of God in such measure that even his handkerchiefs and aprons were taken to the sick and demonically troubled and they were made well. What an adventure making much of Jesus can be!
However, some professional religious folk want to get in on the act. They thought that if they copied Paul’s methods, their fame and favour with the people would go up! They were primarily concerned with making much of themselves! However, they didn’t know what they were doing and got overpowered and beaten up by a man who was demonically oppressed! Remember, their goal was to make much of themselves.
Now notice what happens in this town when people start to hear about their disastrous attempts at ministry. We read this in verse 17:
“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.”
A group of men set out to make much of themselves, and God turned it on its head and used their embarrassing defeat to make much of Jesus! This is how important it is to God to make much of Jesus!Friends, I can’t think if any greater or more compelling mission than living to make much of Jesus!
