"Who needs magic when you got Jesus"

Acts 19:8-20

Paul went to Ephesus to proclaim the Message of Jesus Christ. God was doing some awesome things through Paul, so much that even the handkerchiefs that Paul touched where healing people (Acts 19:11-12). (Now it is important to note here that God can use whatever He wants and whoever He wants to carry out His Will. If He wants to use a handkerchief to heal someone He can but that is not to say that He always will. So be careful not buy into the gimmicks of people selling you holy water or anointed cloths. And notice Paul's cloths were free!) Now some Jewish Exorcist saw what Paul was doing and stood in awe. So much in fact they decided to do what Paul was doing and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Now theses exorcist however routinely practiced magic and believed in the occult. They City of Ephesus was known for the dark arts and witchcraft. And some of the Jews who lived there compromised their beliefs and indulged in the dark arts as well.

So when these exorcist went to cast out demons in the name of Jesus they meet an unexpected outcome. The demon responded to them by saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you (Acts 19:15) ?" And then the demon possessed man began to beat the Jewish Exorcist to a bloody pulp (Acts 19:16). When all the people saw this, Jewish and Greek alike, they began to revere and extol Jesus (Acts 19:17).

This not only inspired people to come and know Jesus it also caused those who were Christians to admit their sins. It turns out that some Christians were practicing magic as well. The Christians of Ephesus brought all their books of the occult out to the city streets and burned them, they burned so much it had a value of 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-19). And God's Word continued to prevail and increase mightily (Acts 19:20).

Why is this important to us? It is important because there are Christians who proclaim to know Jesus and actively practice magic. There are Christians who read the horoscopes and let it direct their lives. There are Christians who call psychic hotlines to get direction And there are Christians who consult mediums to try to talk with the deceased.

Listen all the above mentioned is sinful. Those who practice magic will burn in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8) so as Christians we do not practice it. We do not put our faith Horoscopes but we trust Jesus and please Him with our faith (Hebrews 11:6, 12:2). Our horoscopes do not decide our outcome but we put our trust in God because has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). Next time somebody asks you what your sign is tell them "It's The Cross!" We do not call the psychic hot line to get direction, we instead our led by the Spirit and God's Word (Psalm 119:105, Romans 8:14). And we do not consult mediums to contact the dead (Leviticus 19:31, Isaiah 8:19).

So if you are doing this stuff or having materials in your house that promote these things I have simple advice for you BURN IT!!! No matter how much it cost BURN IT!!!! Because you don't need it and it does not honor God. Live your life to please Lord and watch as His Word will increase and prevail mightily in your life. Stay focused, you can do this!

In His JOY!