Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Religious malpractice
Acts 8:18,19
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
About one year ago I had a very eye-popping experience. I was a visiting speaker at a church, and after speaking I invited persons to come forward for prayer. One of the leaders, a lady, came forward and as I was praying for her some things from her mouth fell to the floor. These were actual physical things that made a sound when they hit the floor. Some looked like metal objects and one looked like a bone or a tooth with the root. They weren’t dentures. These things were heard and seen by me, by the young man who travelled with me, and by the pastor of the church.
When I was done praying for her and she went back to her seat I looked on the floor and the objects vanished. After the service, I asked the young man with me what happened to the things that fell on the floor and he told me that they just disappeared, they were there and then they weren’t. I asked the Pastor and he said the same thing. It was obvious what we were dealing with.
Over the years in ministry, we have found many, at all levels of the church, who profess faith in Jesus but who continue to practice superstition, spiritism, obeah, and other forms of the occult. Others remain members of secret societies and fraternities participating in rituals and other religious malpractice. Many use their bibles both in church and in their non-church religious activities.
In Acts 8:9-24 we have the story of Philip and Simon, the sorcerer he met in Samaria. There are two parts to that brief account and it reminds us very much about many of those we just referred to, persons who come to Jesus but who, at the core, continue to think and see things in the context of their previous life and activity.
Simon heard the gospel of Jesus and “Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.” Acts 8:13. That amazement tugged at Simon, he was previously one who caused amazement as he practised his sorcery in the city. People at every level of society talked about him, “And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.” Acts 8:11.
For Simon, real power was now on display and it was attractive and desirable. “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18,19.
The old thinking and habits of his religious malpractice kicked in, he wanted to go back to his old ways of causing amazement by his works. He wanted that power over people that he had lost. He wanted the adulation that came when people were amazed. Obviously too, though not stated explicitly in the text, he made good money from the exercise of power and he wanted to make an investment in new power for the profit he knew, from experience, that could be gained by it.
There is a ready market for this power too. Talk with the janitorial staff at the law courts in some communities where we work here in Guyana and you’d be surprised at the things they sweep out at the end of every day of hearings. There are also practitioners of these dark arts who advertise their services publicly in the newspapers including items they promise would determine the outcome of court cases.
We are surrounded by false religion and persons masquerading like the Sons of Sceva. We have a responsibility to root out religious malpractice whenever we find it in the church. There are some people who are possessed by the demons who serve the Devil, those persons need our prayer and ministry so that they receive their deliverance. But there are also those who are knowingly and voluntarily serving the Devil and the demons through religious malpractice. Those we must confront, and where necessary, expose.
The story we looked at yesterday about the seven sons of Sceva should come as a warning to all those who have come to Jesus and are members of the church but who continue with religious malpractice. Coming to Jesus means that we put aside the practice of iniquity. There should be no confidence in the former practices because, as happened to those boys, the same demons whose power is relied upon could turn on you.
Don’t believe the movies, merely using the name of Jesus or holding a bible or cross or “Christian” artefact will not give you power over the devil and demons. Just using the name of Jesus and bible verses in any chant or incantation will give you no power, the power comes through genuine faith in Jesus.
When the lame man was healed by the temple and the disciples were challenged Peter said, “His [Jesus] name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16.
Think on these things:
- Have you ever been given charms or carried ‘things’ in your bosom, pockets, or purse?
- Do you have any superstitious items or practices in your home like a glass of water over the door or similar activity?
- Have you ever visited, a witchdoctor, an obeahman, a spiritist or similar practitioner of dark religious practices?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would be free from religious malpractice and be able to help those who are so trapped.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex