On some level, I think everyone wants to be famous. We all want to be known for something we are, or that we have accomplished. I always wanted to be a famous athlete or a superhero (too bad I couldn’t find a radioactive spider to bite me). We all want to be held in high esteem.
By the time Acts 19 rolls around, Paul is becoming pretty famous. He has traveled all over the world preaching the Gospel and encouraging the Church. Lots of people know him (even though some of them want to kill him). He is famous.
But what I love is that Paul wasn’t just naturally famous, he was supernaturally famous. He was otherworld famous. In this chapter we find some guys just randomly using the name of Jesus to become powerful over evil spirits. But in verse 14, their plan kinda backfires. The demons talk back saying that they know Jesus and Paul, but had no respect for these seven losers. So the demons lay the smack down, and show Sceva’s boys who’s boss.
I can’t get over that the demons name Paul as an authority that they would be scared of. That would be incredible to know that God’s power is flowing through you in such an incredible way that even the demons have noticed (probably because they run back to Hell, licking their wounds, and telling horror stories about a little, bald, bow-legged guy that means business!).
Lord, let your church move in you power so dynamically, that the demons know our names. We want our pictures up on the post office walls of Hell. Forget about world famous. We want to be Otherworld famous!
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