The Greatest Power—Wield It Wisely
One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Acts 19:15
Paul and his team spent more time in Ephesus than any other city, about three years total. And God demonstrated his power in many ways during their stay. Converts “spoke in tongues and prophesied” (v. 6). Verse 11 says “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” (v. 12).
The excitement in the city was intoxicating. So, of course charlatans tried to counterfeit it, attempting to drive out evil spirits by saying, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out” (v. 13).
But the demons, Satan’s own henchmen, called out the imposters. “Who are you?” one of them asked (v. 15), then brutally attacked the frauds (v. 16).
When I read that passage, I tsk-tsk those Jews—sons of a Jewish chief priest, no less (v. 14). How could they abuse the name of Jesus that way? And then the Holy Spirit pokes me and asks, “How often do you do the same?”
At first, I resist his conviction, assuring myself, “I don’t do that.”
But the Holy Spirit insists. “What about the times you stretch the meaning of a Bible verse to defend your opinion? Or use ‘God will forgive me’ to justify a questionable decision?”
And then I realize how often I try to manipulate a situation or gain an advantage just as those Jews in Ephesus did.
But the Ephesus story has a grace-filled ending. Verses 17 and 19 say, “The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor,” and “a number who had practiced sorcery” confessed their faith and destroyed the tools of their trade.” “In this way,” Luke writes, “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (v. 20).
Nothing is more powerful than the name of Jesus, and nothing more convicting than the Word of God. But only the Holy Spirit can help us to discern when we are using them honestly, correctly, and humbly. Those who attempted to wield spiritual power for their own advantage and glory were judged and humbled. But when God received the glory, people’s lives were transformed.
Join me in this prayer: “Gracious Savior, guard my mouth, purify my motives. Don’t allow me to abuse your name in any way—in thought, word, or deed. I want you to receive the glory for all you do in and through me. In your name I pray, amen.”
Dig Deeper
Read Acts 19:23–41. How did Demetrius try to stop the spread of the gospel in Ephesus? What was his concern? How did God resolve the issue?
The name of Jesus is not a talisman, and we should never use it lightly. What did God say about his name in Exodus 20:7? What do you think falls under the category of “misuses his name”?
Belief in God is not salvation. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” What is the only path to salvation according to Acts 4:12 and Acts 16:31?
Denise K. Loock
This devotion is part of our series on the Book of Acts.