God was performing extraordinary
miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were
even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them
and the evil spirits went out. Acts 19:11-12
There are religions all over the world
that claim to do all sorts of miracles. The Christian faith generally
is not one of them. God does work miracles in His own time and in His
own way. Stories are told of miracles happening, but they are never
the result of man's power or investment. So how do we explain the
working of Paul at this time? And why cloth to perform it?
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.
The Jews hated him...the non-Christian ones, that is. He had been the
super-Jew. In Philippians 3 he tells us that he was the best of the
best. Born right, studied right, belonged to the right religious and
politican parties, kept all of the law of Moses, and zealously
persecuted the church of Christ before God intercepted him during a
killing spree, Paul became the enemy of the synagogues around the
known world. Because of this, he journeyed to the parts of the
Mediterrainian preaching the gospel. God used the miracles as a sign
to these people that a God more powerful than theirs was talking to
them. Like Jesus, healing power of the Holy Spirit flowed from him.
Unlike Jesus, he did not pronounce healing from afar as Jesus did. It
took contact. Cloth was the easiest thing for people to transport
that could be touched by Paul, or more likely the peoples touched him
with them, and took them off to the sick and possessed that couldn't
come to him. Like the people around Jesus, they wanted the benefits
of contact with holy things, but many did not partake of the inner
spiritual transformation.
And then there were those who wanted to
profit by it. The next few verses of this passage are hilarious, if
not pitiful. Jewish exorcists...those who would travel from town to
town claiming to cast out evil spirits...saw that Paul could actually
accomplish what they claimed to be able to do. I can assure you that
they followed him around to see exactly what he was doing, and
determined to imitate him and his power. But they found out the hard
way that the Spirit of God is not given for mass distribution!
They were semi-wise. They told the
demons to leave in the name of “Jesus whom Paul preaches.” They
knew that that name, that of Jesus...not just any Jesus...Paul's
Jesus, was the power that made demons sit up and take notice. And
take notice they did. The answer from the demon should be a warning
to any who trifle with the name of Jesus Christ. “Jesus, I know,
and Paul I know; but who are (you)?” And he attacked them, beating
them, stripping them naked, sending them into the streets fearing for
their lives! The demon was not afraid of them, not submissive to
them, because they were nothing for it to fear. The demons only fear
God. They know what is coming to them at the end of all things, and
know that their power on earth is temporary at best. They must submit
to God, to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit, which includes any who are
truly saved and have the Spirit dwelling in them. These were not
Christians, not true followers of Christ, and the name of Jesus had
no effect in their lives or the lives of others. Toying with the name
of Jesus caused themselves harm and not good. And well it should
have. They wanted the power, the prestige, the money, and the
reputation that they could gain from their association with the power
of the name. They did not want the humility, the scurge and rejection
of the world, the poverty or hardship, or the reputation that would
often send Paul running from towns to keep his life. They only wanted
the benefits and not the sacrifices that the Name of Jesus can and
will bring to His followers. They did not want to follow the
spirit...verse 21 says Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to his next
mission field...they wanted to go where they could make the most of
themselves. The name of Jesus meant salvation to Paul, and profit and
power to them.
And how we mistake the name of Jesus in
this day and age as well. We try to bring people to Jesus in much the
same way...bringing them the clothes to heal them or solve their
problems, forgetting that they need to come to Jesus for forgiveness
and true inner, spiritual healing and salvation. We look for grand
buildings and great programs in churches instead of the God Himself,
and the Son, and the Spirit given to those who come in repentance,
humility, and faith. True faith, not hocus-pocus faith. Not a
believing like the demons, who believe and tremble. We need to know
and love this God, want the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy,
peace in our hearts, resulting in patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. None of this is for our
exhaltation, but for God's glory and to honestly bring others into
that self-same relationship with Him. And we will carry that with our
lips and lives, not with handkerchiefs and aprons.
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