https://youtu.be/_syXXNl_yt4

Magnify the LORD!

Acts 19:8-20

What’s happening?

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was
similar to that in Corinth. Paul entered the synagogue where he was already
known (18:19) and spoke boldly for 3 months about the kingdom of God. But as in
Corinth, so in Ephesus, the Jewish people rejected the good news: some became
obstinate, refusing to believe “the Way”. As a direct result of the stubborn
opposition of the synagogue, Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and
went and had discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Not much is known
about him, other than he was a gentile, philosopher or lecturer of some kind
and rented out his hall to Paul where he stayed for 2 years.

God did unique miracles
through Paul- not just ordinary, but these were “extraordinary” or “special”.
v.11 “God wrought special miracles”. These were not typical, even
for a miracle. Paul used the handkerchiefs and aprons he used in tentmaking,
these were just rags he used to tie around his head as a sweatband or his waste
as an apron, prayed over them and people were healed and demonic spirits left.

A group of Jewish exorcist,
thought it well to use Jesus’ name to cast out demons, and the result was
disastrous.

Fear fell on all at the power
of the Holy Spirit and deliverance came from the occult practices of that
region.

What does it mean to you?

1. When you magnify the Lord,
there will always be scoffers. v. 9

A scoffer- one who speaks to
someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.

2 Peter 3:3-4 New King
James Version (NKJV)

3 knowing
this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to
their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Jude
17-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 But
you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of
our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the
last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These
are [a]sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the
Spirit.

Paul had no time for scoffers. He had dealt time and
time again with rebellious and hard-hearted people. He had no time to argue
with people, he had a job to do. “You do not want my message?” I will take it
to those who do. He just moved on.

To us: You cannot change anyone. Stop thinking that
you can save people, you cannot save anyone. ONLY JESUS saves and only HE
delivers. You are not the savior. Stop getting into needless arguments that are
futile.

Sometimes, you just have to
move on. People will reject the message of the cross. They are not rejecting
you, they are rejecting Him. Just move on.

I don’t have time to argue
with you about God’s Word. If you do not believe, I have to move on. I have a
job to do.

A scoffer does not hear rebuke
and does not like to be reproved- move on

A scoffer follows there own
desires and interests- move on

Scoffer is the name of the
arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride

“Whoever corrects a scoffer,