"Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
—Acts 19:15
When the seven sons of Sceva, the high priest, attempted to
drive out unclean spirits in the name of Jesus, they were not able. (Acts 19)
They were doing and saying the same things, but without spiritual result. You
cannot do anything for God unless it is done by faith in God. Oh, you can do things in His name, but it
really amounts to work accomplished by your own effort. Ephesians 2:8,9 says we are saved by grace
through faith not of works lest any man boast that somehow he had saved himself
by his own effort. And so it is when you
step out for God on your own.
Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)“
There is nothing I can do that pleases God in terms of
effort, what God wants from me is a broken and contrite heart and a willingness
to pick up my cross and follow Jesus.
You may think, “But God I am so smart.” Who gave you your
intelligence? When you serve God you
must lay a spiritual foundation. If you
say “yes” God will take you places that would crush your spirit and cause you
to feint in the intensity of the circumstances. Whether it be a lion’s dens, a
fiery furnace, or ministering to a difficult person in a difficult situation,
God is sufficient to meet your needs.
“… my God will meet all your needs according to the
riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
Have you ever wondered what the difference was between a
Christian giving someone a drink of water and a non-Christian doing the same
thing? The person receiving the water
has their thirst quenched either way.
Sometimes we are guilty of thinking that only Christians can do “good”
things. Not true. But there is something supernatural going on
when a Christian serves others.
Jesus told the woman at the well that He had living water to
give her. He could offer water to her
soul … and so can you. You must have the
Spirit of God in you to do that. There
are organizations involved in disaster relief that have the reputation for being “spiritual” but, in fact
merely have a religious veneer. They will not allow Christians to share their
faith in their desire to be “ecumenically correct” and not offend people of
other beliefs or no belief at all.
Disasters are not an opportunity to take advantage of people’s
vulnerability. But they do give
opportunity for the Church to rise up and be ready to give a reason for the
hope that is within them. (1 Peter 3:15)
There should be no spiritual strings attached to our serving
others, but there should be spiritual power behind it. God uses circumstances to speak to the
lost. Sometimes He whispers and
sometimes He SHOUTS! In any case we must
be ready to shine the light of Jesus whatever the situation and circumstance.
Just make certain you have spiritual batteries in your flashlight!
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