Originally posted: 1/30/2020
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified, (19:17).
Other translations of this verse refer to His Name as being held in high honor, in high esteem or praised; the word magnified in our English language comes closer to the original intent.
From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word magnified is translated from the Greek: “3170. μεγαλύνω megalúnō; fut. megalunṓ, from mégas (3173), great, strong. To make great, enlarge.”
We often use a derivative of this Greek word. Did you see it there? Mega… And we know when something is mega, we have defined it as the largest, the hugest, the most extreme in its class… and nothing else compares.
And as His Name is Being Magnified, the reality of Jesus is clearly defined and made great over all others, enlarged so as no one can deny His magnitude, extreme in His own class… untouchable and none can compare.
Consider His Name Being Magnified
As His Name is Being Magnified, His Holy Spirit confirms Him.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying, (19:5-6).
As His Name is Being Magnified, His Word is heard.
This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks, (19:10).
As His Name is Being Magnified, His miraculous materializes.
God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out, (19:11-12).
As His Name is Being Magnified, the reasonable response is fear.
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified, (19:10).
As His Name is Being Magnified, true repentance results.
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone… (19:18-19).
As His Name is Being Magnified, His Word grows and prevails.
So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing, (19:20).
As His Name is Being Magnified, the One, True God is revealed.
“You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all,” (19:26).
As His Name is Being Magnified, there is furious opposition.
When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, (19:28-29).
How should we respond to His Name Being Magnified?
His Name is to be Magnified in all of us who claim His Name.
Is His Name Being Magnified; is the reality of Jesus clearly defined and made great over all others; is His Name enlarged so as no one can deny His magnitude in us; is His Name Magnified as extreme, in His own class and untouchable so none can compare, in us?
Self-examination time:
Before His Name can be Magnified in our lives, we must born-again through faith in His Name. When we accept Jesus as our Savior it is not merely an intellectual or emotional decision. It is a decision of the will, a decision that places every ounce of faith and trust in His provision for our redemption.
Am I convinced His Name is Being Magnified in me through the confirmation of His Holy Spirit?
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:16).
If you have any doubt, you can have His Assurance this very day: Acknowledge you are a sinner; Admit you need Him to do what you can never do for yourself; Ask Him to be your Savior; Accept by faith His salvation accomplished by His death, burial and resurrection; Agree with the confirmation of His Holy Spirit – you are a child of God!
Continuing in our self-examination as a child of God:
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that I am irresistibly drawn to hear and continue in His Word, to daily live in His restoration and freedom?
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb, (Psalm 19:7-10).
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” (John 8:31-32).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that I am expecting His miraculous to materialize?
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen, (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that I am responding in holy fear?
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that I am keeping a short list of my sins through true repentance?
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that His Word is growing and prevailing in my mind, will and emotions?
like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord, (1 Peter 2:2-3).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that others see Him, the One, True God revealed in me?
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me, (Galatians 2:20).
Is His Name Being Magnified in me, so that I am willing to face furious opposition for His Name?
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you,” (John 15:18-19).
Oh, that we would commit to pray, live, and grow in Him so that His Name is Being Magnified in us each and every day.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together, (Psalm 34:3).