Who are you?
Scripture reading for May 10th: 1st Samuel 28-29, 1st Chronicles 9, Acts 19
Acts 19: 13-17 “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus Whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell on them all and the Name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.”
God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul in Ephesus, many were being healed and delivered from evil spirits just through contact with aprons or handkerchiefs that had touched Paul’s body. Some sons of a chief priest named Sceva observed Paul’s use of the Name of Jesus and the resulting miracles. They tried to imitate Paul’s “formula” for success. The demonic spirit spoke to them in rebuke, the spirit knew Jesus, and recognized Paul the Apostle, but who were they? It is one thing to know about the Name of Jesus, but another to have authority to use Jesus’ Name in ministry to the afflicted and demonically oppressed! These impostors paid a price for their failure to know Jesus and received a beating to remember! Do the forces of Satan know who you are?
Acts 19:18-20 “Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for adopting me into Your forever family and granting me the authority to ask in the Name of Jesus for needs of ministry and miraculous deliverance. I receive this authority by Your grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Use me as You will to see Your Word increase and prevail mightily in this time to Your glory!
1st Samuel 28:5-7 “When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
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