May 19, 2025 Devo

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Acts 19. People are blown away by the powerful ministry of the apostles. They are not only preaching with power, they are healing people and casting out demons, just like Jesus did. Some people who watched them do this tried to mimic these miracles. One group who tried to do this were these seven sons of a priest named Sceva. They figured that if they used the same magical words that the apostles used that they could do what they did. So they cornered this demon-possessed guy and declared, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, come out!” The demon responds with, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” And the demon beat all of them and drove them naked into the street!
The moral of that story is to never try to do God’s work out of your own strength. The mistake they made was believing that it was the apostles who were doing the healing and casting out the demons. It wasn’t. It was GOD working through the apostles doing it. God has the power to heal, not any man. God has authority over demons, not any of us. We may get the privilege of being the vessels through which God works, but we can never allow ourselves to believe that WE are the ones winning the victories. That’s a setup for defeat.
This is a great lesson for us to camp on as we begin a new week. As we face all that lies before us, are we going to rely on our own strength, or are we going to rely on the strength that God gives us? Look at the key words the psalmist uses in our verse today. “Only by YOUR power…only in YOUR name.” The writer is wise enough to know that his enemy is stronger than he is. He doesn’t have the wisdom, talent or power to do what God is calling him to do. So he surrenders himself to the authority and power of God, knowing that God CAN DO what he cannot. Will YOU do the same?
I don’t know what you’re facing this week, but what I can tell you is that if it is of any consequence at all, you’re probably not up to the task. I’ve lived long enough to discover that the Enemy I face is stronger than I am. He’s smarter than I am. And the things he throws my way are too difficult for me to overcome. But he is NOT bigger, smarter, or more powerful than the God I serve. First John says, “Greater is The One who is in us than the one who is in the world!” Lay your life down before the Lord today and ask HIM to live in you and through you. Without Him, you’re destined for defeat. But by HIS power and in HIS name, you, my friend, are destined for VICTORY! That’s God’s Word for you today.