We all have a choice: to do life on our own or with God, empowered by his wisdom and strength. It seems like an easy choice, but how often do we find ourselves trying to get through each day on our own? Discover how to have victory in life with God’s daily assistance.
Notes 📓✏️:
Acts 19:11-20 (NLT): “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.”
The Trap of Self-Sufficiency
We can do life in our own strength, with our own wisdom, and in our own ability.
OR
We can do life empowered by God’s Spirit, in His strength, and with His wisdom.
To be empowered, you must first have a relationship.
To be empowered, you must have a daily dependency on Jesus.
1. Victory in life is not as simple as it looks.
Truth: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s breakthrough.
Slow, consistent growth is good growth.
What looks like an “easy life” is often backed by countless choices of deep dependence on God.
New level, new devil.
No victory for heaven goes unchallenged by hell.
The higher you rise, the lower you kneel.
2. The Sons of Sceva thought faith was just something you picked up when you need it.
“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits…”
You don’t just pick up faith. You walk in it.
Consistent prayer is the evidence of constant dependence.
Matthew 22:29 (NLT): “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God..”
Know the Word. Know Power.
James 1:5 (LB) :“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; He will not resent it.”
3. Second-hand revelation won’t get your first-hand results.
The 7 Sons were walking around saying…
“I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the LORD with all YOUR heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
When it’s personal, it’s powerful.
4. Any power apart from Jesus will eventually fall short.
Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (NLT): “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
A victorious life is one that is empowered by God’s divine assistance.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- Have you ever tried to accomplish something difficult in your own strength? What made you finally realize that you needed to rely on the Lord?
- In Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva tried to use the name of Jesus without truly knowing Him. What lesson can we learn from their attempt?
- What are some “invisible battles” that might not be obvious to us but play a role in someone else’s victory
- What practical habits can you implement on a day-to-day basis that will help you remember to avoid the trap of self-sufficiency?