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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Acts 19:13-17, we read of a very serious situation where real spiritual warfare is encountered. News of this incident got around and some folks became very afraid, and no wonder. But, even in all this, the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ was magnified and glorified.
Verse 18. This led to many who believed, coming to confess their sins, and admitting their sinful ways. Here we see young disciples - fairly new believers - who had been holding onto private or personal sins in their own individual lives. Secret sins.
As a consequence of what had been happening, these believers realised that they were not what they should be in the eyes of God, even after sitting under the daily preaching and teaching of The Word of God by Paul. They were not what they should be and they knew it! People normally know it. People normally know when there remain matters in their lives that still require sorting out.
What ought a person to do in that situation? Confess it. Acknowledge it.
Repent - and turn from the behaviour - and be washed - cleaned up - forgiven. The lesson here is - 'put everything right'.
They came with all sorts of books and literature - on the occult - secret societies - pornography - etc - and publicly burned them so that all could see what they were getting rid of - and why it was essential to get rid of those artifacts. These were worth a lot of money, but they would do a lot of damage in the long term. The commercial value of what they got rid of was worth thousands of pounds, but in the long term these articles would have harmed and damaged the believers - spiritually and physically.
Are there things from our past - our past lives - books - literature - records - tapes - photographs - connections with organisations and societies - newspaper cuttings - so many things? There can be things we have to discard which we perhaps may not be aware of - things which might be hindrances to our spiritual growth and development and maturity. There can be things from our past - which we need to get out of our system - which we need to get rid of - things we wish were out of our lives - and be finally cut free from - once and for all.
Sometimes 'things' linger on - having a hold over us - and we are unaware of what we are holding onto. Here we see in God's Word what God would have us do. Here we see in God's Word - what to do. When the Holy Spirit is actively moving and flowing, so are other spirits, and we can become involved in a battle. But as we stand and minister in the strength of Jesus Christ, and as we put right whatever needs to be put right, the influence of The Word of God grows mightier and mightier, and the whole community is aware of something happening - as God is at work.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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