Read: Acts 19:11-20
The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (v. 15)
Can you believe this story? The sons of a certain Jewish high priest named Sceva, presumably so enamored by the extraordinary miracles being done by God through Paul, wanted to get in on the act. However, they, being completely ignorant of the Lord Jesus and the high cost of discipleship required of all his followers, thought they could perform the same miracles as the apostle Paul with a little sleight of hand or mumbo jumbo, like a cheap carnival magician. They couldn’t have been more mistaken.
The Bible is quite clear that gifts of God are for the people of God called by Jesus’s name and committed to participating with him in the redemption of the whole world (1 Peter 4:10-11). Spiritual gifts are never to be used for personal gain. Don’t steal what God has given freely!
Jesus reserves his harshest rebukes not for Roman philosophers or pagan playwrights but for his own people who refuse to “walk the talk”; remember the way he rebuked the Pharisees. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27-28). I once heard Dr. Lewis Smedes redefine sin in a jarring way: “Sin is giving God a mask when he is looking for a face.” Commit with me to doing everything in our power to be honest and transparent in all our lives.
As you pray, ask Jesus to help you be honest and transparent.
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life and he has become a certified public school substitute teacher so that he can continue investing in the lives of young people. He is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
