第十九章
13 那時，有幾個遊行各處、念咒趕鬼的猶太人，向那被惡鬼附的人擅自稱主耶穌的名，說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌，敕令你們出來！」 14 做這事的，有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。15 惡鬼回答他們說：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」 16 惡鬼所附的人就跳在他們身上，勝了其中二人，制伏他們，叫他們赤著身子受了傷，從那房子裡逃出去了。17 凡住在以弗所的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都知道這事，也都懼怕，主耶穌的名從此就尊大了。18 那已經信的，多有人來承認訴說自己所行的事。19 平素行邪術的，也有許多人把書拿來，堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價，便知道共合五萬塊錢。20 主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。
默想
- 擅自妄稱耶穌的名字，並不是得到超然能力的關鍵；最主要的關鍵是需要與耶穌建立個人的關係，並願意為神所用，且學習隨處觀察神的作為。
- 我有沒有隨意的呼喚耶穌的名？
- 我家裡是否還有與偶像、邪術有關的符咒和其他物品？我願意全部丟掉嗎？
禱告與筆錄：
繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。
Chapter 19
13Some 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.” 14Seven 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?” 16Then 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. 17When 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. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19A 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. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Meditation
- Uttering or chanting the name of Jesus is no key to supernatural power. The key is having a personal relationship with Jesus, being available to Him and learning to see where He is at work.
- Do I use Jesus’ name lightly?
- Is there still something in my life that belongs to the idols or witchcraft? Am I willing to get rid of them all?
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.
Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible.)
Do you use Jesus’ name often? Did you use it because of your love and respect of Jesus or for other reasons? What is so important of Jesus’ name? How do we use Jesus’ name properly? Parent, lead the family for a prayer of confession, if needed, and ask Jesus to help everyone to treat Jesus and His name with love and respect. Make a poster reminding everyone to respect Jesus’ name. Draw it in your Family Devotional Journal.