Date: Saturday, 7th October, 2023
Text: Acts 19:11-16
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
According to today’s text, seven brothers, who were the sons of a Jewish High Priest named Sceva tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out demons. They said to the evil spirits, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” But the evil spirit said to them, “I know Jesus, and I know about Paul; but you—who are you?” The man who had the evil spirit in him attacked them with such violence that he overpowered them all. They ran away from his house, wounded and with their clothes torn off.
Who are you? Your character is who you are in secret; while your reputation is the person the public thinks you are. But there are three people you cannot deceive, namely, God, Satan and yourself. Everything done in secret is open to these three individuals mentioned.
In today’s text, the sons of Sceva were willing to chase demons away but they lacked the spiritual credentials to dislodge them because of who they were. First they lacked the faith credential because the Bible says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils.” Mark 16:17a.
The devil is not afraid of your religious titles but he is afraid of the fire you carry. Hebrews 1:7a says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
The second credential the Sons of Sceva lacked was the light of God. Darkness cannot cast out darkness. The light of Christ must shine for darkness to be dispelled in your life. John 1:5
Thirdly, they lacked the credential of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 12:28, Christ said, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
Who are you? What are your spiritual credentials?
Prayer Nugget: Father, thank you for your word. Please, perfect all that concerns my spiritual credentials in Jesus name.