Empowered to Thread Upon Serpents and Scorpions

[Acts 19:1-16 KJV] “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost”.

[3] “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this , they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve”.

[8] “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. [9] But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. [10] And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”.

[11] “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: [12] So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them”.

[13] “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. [14] And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. [15] And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

[16] “And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded”.

We have learnt that it is possible to reach entire cities for Christ. We learnt that this is possible when we;

1. Enlist as part a faithful remnant
2. Commit to pray and intercede with thanksgiving and without wrath
3. Step out two by two to infiltrate the dark world with the gospel and power, in obedience to preach the kingdom, heal the sick, and cast out devils
4. Bring back honest and timely feedback
5. Brace ourselves to thread upon serpents and scorpions.

These are the simple five-point strategy to reach every city for Christ.

The story in the text we just read establishes the same pattern. When apostle Paul found certain disciples in the city, he committed himself to establish a faithful remnant, who began to reach all of Asia. The apostle separated them until they were taught and established in the faith and doctrine of Christ.

After they were established, they began to reach the city with the gospel and power of God. How did they do it?;

1. They were separated and taught:

They had no interaction with those who were hardened. They kept their faith intact and walked in total obedience. You must be yielded and committed to separation.

2. They spent time with the apostle and learned:

They had been with him daily for 730 days in private study. They had been taught. They had been with him before the aprons. They had heard him teach and work special miracles. Their faith had been built. It is one thing to be taught but another things to learn. They were taught and they learned.

3. They took aprons from the body of apostle Paul and laid it on the sick and healed them and evil spirits left them:

In Mark 6:13, we learn that the disciples of Jesus Christ healed the sick and casted out devil by anointing them with oil. Where did they get the oil from; of course from the Lord. But remember, they did not recieve oil until they had been with the Lord.

It is dangerous to try to use aprons or oil to minister when you have not been with the Lord. When the sons of sceva tried it, the devils beat them. You need to be trained before you can use the oil. The devil has no respect for vocabulary and diction; your connection and authority matters.

I know without doubt that with the tokens of your apostle in your hand, you are mighty. You can subdue serpents and scorpions. You will have dominion and rule with might and power. With your apostle’s token in your hand, you will subdue devils. I pray that heavens will answer anytime you lift up those token of oil and mantles. Be blessed.

I love you.

Noah Simpe Bediako