Acts 19:11-20 – “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”  NKJV

 

 This devotional is available via YouTube in audio form.  The link is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htwO5O2AiiQ&feature=youtu.be

 

I can understand this type of activity from non-believers but it is especially troubling when believers try to imitate someone being used of God in the miraculous.  I have learned and am totally convinced that God cannot be reduced to a formula but will always remain the Sovereign God of All Creation and just because He does His works one way through one does not mean that can be reduced to a formula.  This account illustrates the fallacy and insult to God in attempting to press Him into a box and manipulate His power.  It is not only foolish but dangerous to attempt to do so.

When a move of God transpires or a minister comes through and God uses that movement or minister in “the works that I do you shall do also” and brings the Book of Acts to life through them, I cringe when I see churches copying what was done.  They attempt to duplicate God’s works by mimicking what they say.  I have been informed I am not welcome in places because I refer to this passage when I see that.  We will not manifest God by mimicking what we see in another.  We will manifest God when we give our hearts wholly to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our steps, words, and deeds.  There is no “shortcut” to God or God’s Power.

These men were impressed with the miraculous and wrongly assumed if they used the words and followed the pattern of Paul they would achieve the same result.  Boy, were they wrong and if it were not so tragic it would be comical when we see that in churches.  We must always remember it is, “Christ IN US the hope of glory.”  It is not what we see in another that is the hope of glory.  It is Christ IN US…  It is Christ THROUGH US.  It is Him manifesting Himself through us in the manner He chooses not how we decide He should.

Some hold the belief that the days of miracles are passed, but I cannot find that in the Bible after honest evaluation.  Yet, those same people, when faced with the need of a miracle, will ask people to pray.  Why?  If the days of miracles are passed, what is the point in wasting time praying for God to intervene and perform a miracle?  I believe this is in the same category as the saying, “There are no true atheists in foxholes during battle.”  I believe that we all believe in miracles when we need one and that suggests that deep inside we believe that God is God and can do today what He has done at any time in the past.  He is truly the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He does not change! 

I pray that God will help each of us allow Him to be God to us, for us, and through us at all times and in all situations.  God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!