Costly Repentance

September 29

(Acts 19:19-20 NIV) “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. {20} In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

(2 Corinthians 9:13 NIV) “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ…”

(Matthew 3:8 NIV) “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

(Jonah 2:8 NIV) “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

When the Ephesians saw the power of God, they responded with a costly repentance. They publicly burned all their expensive sorcery books. Their lives and their values had changed. When was the last time that your relationship with Jesus cost you anything? What have you sacrificed as a result of repentance? Churches today have become adept at touting what they offer to those who attend. Seldom is anyone asked what they have to offer to the church, or told what they must surrender in order to come. We try to make Christianity as easy and as cheap as possible. Costly repentance does not sell very well in a consumer-oriented culture. Advertising benefits will always draw a bigger crowd than calling for sacrifice. But here is the truth: God’s grace is offered freely, but following Jesus will always cost you something. Any gospel that tells you otherwise is a false gospel. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Fear of the Lord

September 28

(Acts 19:17-18 NIV) “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. {18} Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.”

(2 Corinthians 5:11 NIV) “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”

(1 Peter 2:17 NIV) “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

(Revelation 14:6-7 NIV) ““Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. {7} He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.””

Those living in Ephesus were struck by the power of God. They were in awe of the healing and deliverance Paul did in the name of Jesus. Convicted of their sins, they began to call upon the name of the Lord, proving their repentance by their deeds. Fearing God is not a bad thing. It may have been overdone in days gone by, but many today have gone to the other extreme, reducing God to a harmless do-gooder who loves everything about us. They have made God into a doting grandparent. This is not the God of Scripture. The God of Scripture died on a cross for our sins, but this same God also drowned the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, and consumed the false prophets of Baal with fire from heaven. God is holy and sovereign. He holds the power of life and death, and the keys to heaven and hell. A healthy fear of God is not a bad thing. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Original Terrorists

September 27

(Acts 19:16 NIV) “Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

(John 10:10 NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

(1 Peter 5:8 NIV) “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

We have an enemy. He goes by many names: Satan, Lucifer, the devil, the evil one. He and his minions are the original terrorists, and they will never change. Their goal is that we have no place where we feel safe and secure from their attacks. Satan and his demons hate us, and just as the seven sons of Sceva discovered, they can overpower us, beat us down, strip us of dignity, and send us running. The devil may tempt us with good things that we crave and covet, but his end goal is not our happiness, or our contentment. His goal is to isolate us, decimate our faith in God, and devour us. He is a liar and a thief, and his intent is to destroy, steal, and kill. Hate, chaos, and carnage are his ultimate delights. Our only hope against his onslaught is to put on the full armor of God and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Only the name of Jesus can defeat these terrorists. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Risky Business

September 26

(Acts 19:13-16 NIV) “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." {14} Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. {15} One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" {16} Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

(Jude 1:8-9 NIV) ““In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. {9} But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!””

Mouthing off to demonic spirits is risky business, as the seven sons of Sceva discovered in dramatic fashion. These “wannabe” miracle workers hadn’t been called by God -- they had called themselves. They presumed upon the power of God. They threw the name of Jesus around like a cheap trinket to impress people, but they did not have God’s blessing, nor were they filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The spirits do not fear boastful people who loudly claim authority over them. They do not fear those who know about Jesus and who spout his name like it was some kind of magical incantation. Never underestimate the power of our enemy. Even the angels know better than to go around mouthing off to demonic spirits. Who the demons really fear is the humble servant of Jesus Christ -- the disciple who is full of God’s Spirit, not full of themselves. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day