Nougat 1

Greetings siblings

I thank God for you and celebrate the fact that you’re still here. In the last few weeks, the number of death news, the intensification of weather conditions, the ongoing wars, and the nature of current events all invite reflection on our state of affairs. Are we ready for meeting our Saviour, be it here on earth, or by being raptured? Should our Lord call us, what is our accounting? Or are we living on borrowed faith? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 19:13, 15 NIV

[13] 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 the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”

[15] One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

For What Are We Known

The little girl indicated that she wanted to be a teacher because she loved to beat. Her ambition was good, but her motives were suspect. Had she continued on to teach with that motive, she probably would be serving time for child abuse long before she actually impacted lives positively.

There’s another aspect to her ambition, though. Her comment suggests that up to that point in her life (she was only about 5 at the time), she only experienced teachers as ones who beat children. It is not a very positive image of teachers and teaching there. But what if she were to determine her faith based on our lives – yours or mine? What if someone was truly able to see our faith behind the scenes? Would they be as convicted and desirous of following Jesus?

Shortly after Pentecost, revival spread across the Roman Empire, as more and more people believed in Jesus. In many instances, they came for the miracles, signs, and wonders but stayed for the Gospel message. Many made their own commitments to follow Christ and also began manifesting gifts of God’s Spirit.

Like the little girl mentioned earlier, some individuals desired the role of evangelists for the wrong reasons. It seems their motive was to gain popularity. They were probably copying many spiritual gifts, but our Nougat says they were involved in the business of deliverance from demons. A noble ambition for sure, but dangerous, as they were simply mimicking what they saw. Yes, they projected a form of holiness but were not undergirded by faith in and an understanding of God.

These false prophets weren’t even consciously signed up with the Devil. They were operating in self. Is it any wonder that the demons shut them up? Like the centurion who sought Jesus, those demons understood chains of command. They checked the level of authority and conviction of those false prophets and found them wanting. It gave them the grounds to rebuke the prophets. (Can you imagine if that were to happen in these days? Oy!)

While the demonic rebuke had the effect of strengthening the witness of true believers, it must have been devastating for those prophets. How much worse it will be for us if God were to weigh us in the balance and find us wanting!

Search us, oh Lord, and reveal our hearts. And where our actions are manifesting wickedness or fall short of You, convict us please Y’shua. All the glory this world offers us is of no value if it doesn’t translate to glory for Your holy name. Forgive our foolish ways, please Lord, as You extend grace upon grace to us. Hear us, we pray in the name of Y’shua, Your beloved Son, amen.

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May all we seek be found in Christ