Welcome back to another edition of #churchnotes as always, if you didn't make it to church today, that's okay! I've got you! Check out today's sermon and my notes below! God Bless! (sermon begins at the 30 minute mark)
Dr. Anthony Cobbs, Executive Pastor, Resurrection Baptist Church
“Ain’t nothing like the real thing”
- counterfeit products are a 2 trillion dollar industry
- When looking at a knock- off (counterfeit item) it might have the name but the quality ain’t the same
- When we walk in the authentic power of God, we can tell the devil that enough is enough
- We do not have to settle for anything other than the authority given to us in through Jesus Christ
- WE NEED GOD! We need the power to God to move in us, through us and for us
- We don't have time for anything fake, we need the authentic real power of God
- Paul under the power of God, was there to clean up the fake power (magic) in the city
God’s Power is Evident, Effective, and an Example for others
1. God's Power is Evident
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
- God has much more power than we have sin
- God using Paul is evidence of God's power working through you, while working on you
- Paul is the most unlikely champion to be used for the face of Christianity
- verse 12, “so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
- When God’s power is working through you, your very presence will change people around you
- - Your influence is greater than what you think, that is why people gravitate towards you
- - You don't have to kick, scratch, scramble, manipulate, or deceive your way up to prove anything to anybody
- When you're operating through God's power, you're just doing what you know how to do and watch how God will do the rest
- Paul didn’t have to promote himself, God did it for him
- Paul was faithful where he was and God established his reputation
- When you have the authentic power of God, it will be evident to everyone around
- Notice in the text, Paul is being talked about but he is not present, verse 15, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
- You're being discussed and talked about now because a promotion is on the way.
2. God's Power Effective
- The seven sons of Sceva were focused on the performance of miracles not the one who works the miracles
“Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Acts 19:14-16
- They didn’t know Jesus but the devil did
- If you’re going to fight the devils in your life, you’ve got to know Jesus for yourself
- You can deal with the devil instead of the devil dealing with you
- God’s s power will establish you but fake power will expose you
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
3. God's Power is Example for others
- The people saw what fake power can produce through the sons of Sceva
- They saw what the real power of God can do through Jesus who Paul preached
- With that power, the city of Ephesus was turned upside down!
- We have the same power!
When we walk in the authentic power of God
1. Confession
- verse 18 “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.”
- They admitted their wrongdoing without backlash and embarrassement
- They were able to talk about what they had done without being talked about
- Operating in the power of God will help us to do what James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
- Too many times we confess our sins to someone who is not righteous but they are reporters.
- The righteous pray and reporters talk about you
- Be careful who you confess to and share things with
- Even the devil comes to church you need discernment on who to confess to
- I confessed my sins in therapy
- A therapist listens without judgement and offers guidance
2. Let go of things holding them back
- verse 19 - A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
- In order to move forward in the power of God, they had to let go of some things that were holding them back
- Why did the writer include how much it all of it cost?
- Because when you truly make the decision to walk in the power and authority of God, it’s gonna cost you something
- No matter how much it costs, it's worth it because ain’t nothing like the real thing
- What is it that you need to let go of today?
- What is keeping you from walking in the true power of God?
Godspeed,
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