I have written a lot about getting into relationship with God, cleansing our hearts, and service for God. Today, as I studied, the thought came to me that I have been preaching and speaking to others about our identity in Christ. Well, what about me and you? Who am I and who are you? There is no such thing as second-hand spirituality. No one else can develop Christian maturity on our behalf. That is up to us. A strong Christian heritage is an asset, but it cannot take the place of your own vibrant, growing relationship with Christ.
"And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Acts 19:15
Paul had a powerful walk with God. God used him so mightily that extraordinary miracles occurred through his life. Cloths and clothes that touched him were taken to the sick, and the sick were healed, evil spirits were even cast out, just from coming into contact with the articles. (Acts 19:10-12). Paul's teaching and preaching were instrumental in building a strong church in the city of Ephesus. Paul's ministry was so impressive and effective that others tried to duplicate it.
Here in our passage of Scripture, seven sons of Sceva were attempting to cast out demons the way Paul did. They confronted an evil spirit and attempted to cast it out , "by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." These men were attempting to use a spiritual power that Paul had acquired by walking closely with his Lord. They could imitate Paul's words, but they could not duplicate the power that God blessed in Paul because they did not have a personal relationship with Christ the way that Paul did. The consequence was the evil spirit retorting, "Jesus I know, Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the evil spirit attacked them and humiliated them. Scripture teaches us that the demons were fearfully aware of who Jesus was, and they were also familiar with the influence Paul had over the powers of darkness, but the evil spirits had no knowledge of the seven sons form Sceva. These seven sons had no relationship with Christ.
Many of us can duplicate the words of our Lord. Many of us can quote Scripture verses that seem to fit with our circumstances. I even see Christians on t.v. trying to imitate the very acts of Paul and Jesus. We can duplicate all these things that are found in mature Christians, but we cannot inherit their walk with God. Christian maturity takes effort. Christian maturity comes with time. Peter and the disciples walked with Christ for three years. The Bible says Paul spent fourteen years in Arabia with God before he started his ministry. An awful lot of us think that if we work hard in our churches, if we memorize enough verses, God will exalt us to high positions and blessed, and powerful ministries. Our passage today demonstrates different.
Friends, if we ignore the place of prayer and if we neglect our relationship with Jesus, we will not grow in our faith. We will not know who we are! Imitating the faith of others will not give us victory. It has to be our faith, our trust, our believing that will only give us the victory. Only as we nurture our own personal relationship with Jesus will our lives be filled with spiritual maturity and power. The Bible tells us that the world is full of spiritual babes and spiritual adults. Examine yourself and ask where are you? Are you a babe or adult? Only you and God know the answer. Who are You?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
"And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Acts 19:15
Paul had a powerful walk with God. God used him so mightily that extraordinary miracles occurred through his life. Cloths and clothes that touched him were taken to the sick, and the sick were healed, evil spirits were even cast out, just from coming into contact with the articles. (Acts 19:10-12). Paul's teaching and preaching were instrumental in building a strong church in the city of Ephesus. Paul's ministry was so impressive and effective that others tried to duplicate it.
Here in our passage of Scripture, seven sons of Sceva were attempting to cast out demons the way Paul did. They confronted an evil spirit and attempted to cast it out , "by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." These men were attempting to use a spiritual power that Paul had acquired by walking closely with his Lord. They could imitate Paul's words, but they could not duplicate the power that God blessed in Paul because they did not have a personal relationship with Christ the way that Paul did. The consequence was the evil spirit retorting, "Jesus I know, Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the evil spirit attacked them and humiliated them. Scripture teaches us that the demons were fearfully aware of who Jesus was, and they were also familiar with the influence Paul had over the powers of darkness, but the evil spirits had no knowledge of the seven sons form Sceva. These seven sons had no relationship with Christ.
Many of us can duplicate the words of our Lord. Many of us can quote Scripture verses that seem to fit with our circumstances. I even see Christians on t.v. trying to imitate the very acts of Paul and Jesus. We can duplicate all these things that are found in mature Christians, but we cannot inherit their walk with God. Christian maturity takes effort. Christian maturity comes with time. Peter and the disciples walked with Christ for three years. The Bible says Paul spent fourteen years in Arabia with God before he started his ministry. An awful lot of us think that if we work hard in our churches, if we memorize enough verses, God will exalt us to high positions and blessed, and powerful ministries. Our passage today demonstrates different.
Friends, if we ignore the place of prayer and if we neglect our relationship with Jesus, we will not grow in our faith. We will not know who we are! Imitating the faith of others will not give us victory. It has to be our faith, our trust, our believing that will only give us the victory. Only as we nurture our own personal relationship with Jesus will our lives be filled with spiritual maturity and power. The Bible tells us that the world is full of spiritual babes and spiritual adults. Examine yourself and ask where are you? Are you a babe or adult? Only you and God know the answer. Who are You?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
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