IT MUST BE PERSONAL!

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“But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’” (Acts 19:13-15)

As you read Acts 19:6-17, you find that Paul had a powerful walk with God....God was using Paul so mightily that extra-ordinary miracles were occurring through his daily life....Verse 12 actually tells us that even cloths that touched Paul were taken to the sick, and they were healed!

Evil spirits were cast out and God used Paul’s teaching and preaching to build a strong church in Ephesus....Paul’s ministry was so impressive, in fact, that others tried to duplicate it....Beginning in verse 13, we start hearing about these 7 Sons of the Chief Priest, Sceva; they attempted to cast out demons the way Paul did.
They confronted an evil spirit and attempted to exorcise it “...by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”....These men were trying to use a spiritual power that Paul had acquired after years of walking closely with his Lord!

They could imitate Paul’s words and movements, but they couldn’t duplicate the POWER FROM GOD that came to Paul through his personal relationship with Almighty God!!! In response, the demon viciously attacked the 7 sons and humiliated them; the demons were fearfully aware of Jesus....James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”....They were also familiar with Paul’s influence over the powers of darkness; but the demons had no knowledge of the 7 Sons of Sceva!!

So, you ask, “What does this have to do with me?”; well, here is the answer:
You can duplicate the words, actions, and deeds of a spiritually mature Christian all you want, BUT YOU CANNOT INHERIT OR DUPLICATE HIS OR HER WALK WITH GOD!!!!!
First of all, you cannot inherit or duplicate another's salvation....It MUST BE A PERSONAL, ONE-ON-ONE EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS; and secondly, your Christian maturity is developed personally by walking daily with Jesus....It takes time and personal effort and desire to grow in Christ!!

If you neglect to take time to read and study God’s Holy Word; if you neglect to take time to talk with God in prayer; if you neglect to go to church on a regular basis to gain Biblical teaching, experience, and discipleship training; if you, in general, neglect your relationship with Jesus Christ, YOU WILL NOT GROW IN YOUR FAITH!!!

Just trying to imitate the faith of others will not give you victory!!!

ONLY AS YOU NURTURE YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS WILL YOUR LIFE BE FILLED WITH SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND WITH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER!!!
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