LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 : TOPIC – DANGER OF SECOND-HAND GOSPEL
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Friday, September 30, 2022
DANGER OF SECOND-HAND GOSPEL
Read: Acts 19:11-20
[11]And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
[12]So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
[13]Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
[14]And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
[15]And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
[16]And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
[17]And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
[18]And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
[19]Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
[20]So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
MEMORISE: And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).
EXPOSITION
The second-hand gospel is the gospel experience you have only heard preached as experienced by others, but you have not really experienced, yourself. For instance, lots of preachers passionately share the powerful mouth-opening experiences and exploits of Apostle Joseph Babalola in the Lord Jesus, though they have never actually experienced such. Let us see from the Scripture the danger such might constitute.
God had wrought and was still doing great exploits by the hands of Paul (Acts 19:11,12); and this was based on Paul’s enviable relationship with, and passion for Christ (Phil., 3:1-10). Paul was preaching what he had experienced, hence the divine confirmation (cf. Matt. 28:20; Mk. 16:20).
Those itinerant Jewish exorcists obviously thought that Jesus’ name works like magic (Acts 19:13), just like Simon the sorcerer thought he could add Jesus’ power to his godless harem (Acts 8:14ff). The seven sons of Sceva tried to demonstrate the power of Him (Christ) they knew not (Acts 19:13-15).
Result: Their true identity (impostors) was exposed (v. 15), and they were punitively dealt with (vv. 16ff). He who talks above his experience in the Lord courts disaster.
Way out: Continue painstakingly walking with the Lord in His Word and ways. The more you do, the more experienced, mature, and wise you become, the more of Him you can successfully speak about, and you can confidently represent the One you have been with.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me not to be trying to deceive myself in my walk with You.
2. Lord, help me to mature in You, by the day, so that I am not adjudged, anytime, to be talking above my experience in You.
3. Pray that God should deliver our churches from fake deliverance ministers parading themselves as true, who are actually using gimmicks.
HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB 809
1. When we walk with the lord
In the light of his word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the alter we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy he bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Matthew 9 – 10