MONDAY October 2, 2023
Unusual Miracles
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 19:11-12
Paul was not only a gifted pastor-teacher; God had also given him the gift of miracles. The Lord worked divinely through Paul’s life. He never started a doctrine to use any cloths for healings. The Greek word handkerchief means “sweatband.” People used a sweatband when they worked.
Have you ever watched televangelists? Some offer a prayer handkerchief or other type of cloth for money. They lie to people, giving them empty promises of healings. Others use different methods of scamming gullible people out of their money. This is all false doctrine. These preachers are wolves in sheep’s clothing––crooks who take advantage of people, especially the desperately sick and destitute widows.
Think about it. Did Paul ever ask for anything? No! God was doing the work! It is the Holy Spirit who empowers men and women in the use of their spiritual gifts:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills (I Corinthians 12:7-11).
Who gets the glory when we use our spiritual gifts? God! As you are in God’s Word, you will discern false teachers from genuine pastors.
For the day may come when false prophets shall arise, and delude the people, and by this shall we be able to discover them; if they claim anything beyond what Christ has revealed, put them aside, for they are false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Spirit only teaches us that which Christ has taught beforehand either by Himself or by the inspired apostles.
~Charles Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
