Tag: extraordinary miracles
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.”
Jesus does the “impossible”!
Scripture reading for January 13th: Matthew 9
A miracle is something that happens that is beyond the ordinary. Miracles have been one of the languages that God has used to cause men and women to marvel and open their heart to believe. Jesus the Son of God was a miracle-worker who did extraordinary miracles that got the attention of lost and hurting people and brought relief to those suffering from the power of Satan.
“While He was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before Him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put Your hand on her and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did His disciples.” Matthew 9:18-19 A ruler of the Jews came to Jesus for help in an impossible situation. His daughter was dead! For some reason, Jesus had become known for the extraordinary miracles that He performed. Word had reached this ruler and he was desperate for help. Jesus responded to the man’s faith, taking along His disciples for a lesson in the miraculous!
“When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, He said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at Him. After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.” Matthew 9:23-26 Jesus was mocked when He told the mourners that the girl was not dead but asleep! They were escorted out before Jesus could act to defeat death. After a touch from Jesus, death left her body! Jesus is still the Miracle Worker today! His followers are now His hands and feet!
Casting Out Evil Spirits
Scripture reading for November 13th: Acts 19-20
The Apostle Paul had begun his third missionary journey to reach those in the province of Asia. (Acts 18:23) He ended up in Ephesus where he found a group of disciples gathered. These twelve men had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard about Jesus Christ. Paul gave them the Gospel of Jesus, told them about the Holy Spirit and then laid hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied! Thus the church at Ephesus was born. Paul’s ministry went on there for nearly three years. This event took place about 20 years after the first Pentecost!
Following this event, Paul spoke in the synagogue, as was his custom. He went to his own brothers, the Jews, first and sought to win them to Jesus. This caused a conflict so he left with the new disciples and went to another place in the city, the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and continued to preach and teach there for two years. His ministry was so effective that all the Jews and Greeks in the whole province of Asia heard the word of the Lord! (Acts 19:10)
The Lord has promised that signs will follow those who obediently preach the Gospel. (Mark 16:15-20) As Paul preached here in Asia, God did extraordinary miracles through him as a help in winning the lost and confirming that Jesus is the Christ. These miracles included supernatural healing and casting out evil spirits. (Acts 19:11-12) Even as handkerchiefs and aprons taken from Paul were sent, the sick were healed and delivered!
Paul’s preaching of Jesus and these extraordinary miracles caused some Jewish exorcists to try and imitate Paul’s methods. They tried to cast out a demon from a possessed man “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” The demon spoke to them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-15) The result was that these seven exorcists were severely beaten by the demon possessed man! The word of this happening and all the miracles brought a revival of holiness. Fear seized the populace and they confessed their evil deeds, sorcery, and witchcraft. They publicly burned their books and charms and the word of God spread and grew in power!
What lessons can we learn from this account of Paul’s preaching in a town with strongholds of witchcraft? God’s power is no match against the powers of the Devil! Jesus told us that in His Name, we would cast out devils! The warning is that we must know this Jesus personally. It can’t be a second hand thing or you will be in trouble, just like the seven who tried it. Demons recognize and know both Jesus and those who have Him as Lord! In His name, extraordinary miracles will follow the preaching of the Gospel and the ministry of those who obediently go! Be bold as you enter your mission field today!