Whatever I Touch ...

March 19

Read: Acts 19:11-20

Whatever I Touch…

“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them…” Acts 19:11-12

What sort of impact do you have on the things YOU touch? When you bump into something or someone… what rubs off on them? What do those people or things go on to do? What a weird passage in Acts. It challenges our sensibilities and ideas around how God works. I mean, scraps of fabric touched by Paul causing demons to leave a person!?! Here is the truth: the power of God “rubs off on” the people and things that we put our hands to. If we know Christ, whatever we touch should leave some sort of evidence of this. The way that we speak, the ways that we act, even just our presence. The Triune God dwells within us, and as a result goes with us wherever we go.

There is a sobering reminder int has passage as well. Look at the “Sons of Sceva”. These men, inspired by the powerful ministry happening around them, went to try their own hand at casting out demons. (v. 13-14) The problem is, they went in their own strength… they went without being rooted in Christ… without knowing the anointed one of God… Jesus. When we try to affect this change and work this way by our own power, we will be easily overcome. Notice what the demon says: “But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (v.15) It is not enough just to “claim” the name of Jesus as the Sons of Sceva did… you must be “in Christ”… rooted in HIM. Do the demons know your name? They knew Paul’s name and they knew Jesus’ name. Paul did what he did in the name of Christ… directed by the Lord. These other guys… not so much. They got WHOOPED by the demon. The demon used the body of the man it possessed and “leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (v.16)

When we try to fight our demons by our own strength, we will just end up “naked and wounded”. When we try to minister to other apart from the strength of the Lord and the Holy Spirit… we end up “naked and wounded”… it simply does not work. When we surrender to the Lord, then the things that we “touch” will have the “fingerprints” of the Lord upon them… they will have power to bring change.

I don’t know how you feel today. Maybe “naked and wounded”? Maybe “oppressed”… entangled in spiritual warfare… enslaved by your “demon(s)”? Maybe you are trying to do it on your own? Are you to participate with the Lord… do you know him? Do the demons know your name? When you look back at the relationships around you and those things you have put your hand to… the things you have touched… What do they tell you? Is the power of God in there anywhere? We will never truly experience this sort of ministry and purpose until we surrender to the Lord. God is intersecting with the physical realm. God changes people… but he also changes things and places. God makes a “scrap of fabric” more powerful than a doctor at times. He can surely use you! Are you not more precious to him than a scrap of fabric? God multiplies his efforts through his people this way. The things you “touch”… the things you put your hands to… they can and will be used by the Lord to work in powerful and mysterious ways! Love you guys. - JDP