SUB-THEME: CALL TO HOLINESS.

13 But some of the Jews who went from place to place driving out evil spirits, took it on themselves to make use of the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I give you orders, by Jesus, whom Paul is preaching. [Mat 7:21] [Act 13:6]

14 And there were seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jew and a chief priest, who did this.

15 And the evil spirit, answering, said to them, I have knowledge of Jesus, and of Paul, but who are you?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them, was stronger than the two of them, and overcame them, so that they went running from that house, wounded and without their clothing.

17 And this came to the ears of all those, Jews and Greeks, who were living at Ephesus; and fear came on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was made great.

18 And a number of those who had faith came and made a public statement of their sins and all their acts. Mat 3:6

19 And a great number of those who were experts in strange arts took their books and put them on the fire in front of everyone: and when the books were valued they came to fifty thousand bits of silver.

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20 So the word of the Lord was increased very greatly and was full of power. Isa 55:11 [Act 6:7].

TOPIC: RENOUNCE EVIL PRACTICES.

God does not delight in evil or tolerate those who practice it. Paul lived a holy and devoted life. God did extraordinary miracles through him. The sick were healed and the demon-possessed delivered (v. 11-12). The sons of Sceva, without the Holy Spirit, tried to imitate Paul to drive out demons. But, the possessed man dealt with them mercilessly. The incident became known in the vicinity that those who believed confessed openly their evil deeds. Sorcerers made a public confession, renounced their evil practices and burned all documents associated with it.

Are you secretly keeping some demonic items such as: rings, books, candles, amulets, jackets, caps and all sorts of evil things?

Do not seal your doom. Confess now!

Denounce all evil practices.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, help me to renounce any evil practice in my life. Amen.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do”.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING PLAN: DEUTERONOMY 21-25.