By Pastor Ola Adejubee
Text: Psalm 56:8-11
Today, we are focusing on a principle that will change our spiritual life. When a young lad has just graduated and started working and you counsel him to put aside a significant portion of his income in a savings programme to be able to take care of challenging situations financially in future, he might as well be reluctant but when the day of need comes and shame stares the fellow in the face, he will remember the old counsel.
This could aptly describe what happened to sons of Sceva as written in Acts 19:3-16 below:
“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 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.”
This is the reason the Psalmist in our scriptural focus says, God is a good record keeper. All your doings in form of:
- Fervent praises
- Heartfelt intercessions and supplications
- Your heart cries.
- Your sacrificial services, etc.
Represent virtues that attract high yield in the vault and books of God. The anointed writer says God has a bottle and a book with which he keeps record of our spiritual activities.
The sons of Sceva did not have deposits of any cry, praises, righteousness, intercessions, etc, in God’s record, yet they were so bold to challenge demons. They forgot that:
- Demons are knowledgeable.
- They know their rights.
- They know those who have legitimate authority over them.
- They are capable of embarrassing and putting people to shame.
When the boys described in the word of God as vagabonds confronted the evil spirits, they stirred the hornets’ nest. The reaction was instant.
When you praise God fervently, heaven takes note, gates are opened for you to access God’s heavenly court (Psalm 100:4).
When you worship in truth and spirit, you are also noted in hell as a dangerous person who should be watched closely.
When you pray violently, with passionate intercessions and supplications, you cause ripples, tremors and earthquakes in hell and on earth, dislodging both places, setting the captives free by the hosts of heaven you marshal in prayers, just like the case of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-27, and Peter in Acts 12:1-11. It is impossible to be a genuine Christian and not be known and noted in heaven and hell.
When you begin to make noticeable deposit in heaven’s spiritual account, you get God excited, He begins to do more than your requests according to Ephesians 3:20, and even flaunts your exploits before the devil like in the case of Job in Job 1:8.
It is impossible to be pleasing God in fervent prayers and not be known in hell, because wherever you go, works of darkness will suffer, their plants are rooted up and their antics exposed, without them being able to do anything because it is written in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the powers of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
That’s why they get angry and attack ferociously whenever they see anyone trying to usurp their kingdom authority illegally.
You must be committed to making deposits of spiritually valuable and viable currencies today and every day, so that you will not be stranded or disappointed on the day of need.
The sons of Sceva were:
- Terrorised and frightened.
- Their clothes were torn.
- They were put to open shame.
- They were forced to turn their back at the enemy and run.
Beloved, think ahead and take all necessary steps today to develop yourself spiritually and make generous deposits into your heavenly account so that you can have something to withdraw and utilise when the time comes.
Renounce your sins and embrace Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour NOW if you have not done so yet.
Recent Comment