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Who Are You?

Leadership

Weird things were happening. So fantastic that everyone wanted a piece of the action. As Paul travelled around teaching about Jesus, he was given the ability to do some pretty cool things. The power of God literally poured out of him to such an extent that when so much as a handkerchief he touched was put on a sick person, they were healed! Wild! As his popularity grew, the copycats began showing up. 

Sceva, a local priest, had seven sons who hatched a plan to start casting out demons in the name of Jesus. They figured if Paul could do it, why can't we? On one such attempt, they went after a possessed man and picked a fight with the wrong demon. As they started their incantation, the demon took them behind the woodshed, taught them a lesson, and sent them away humiliated.

"But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, 'I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?' Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered." (Acts 19:15-16)

We all know people who talk whatever talk is popular or convenient, but haven't walked a step in that direction. These are people whose words and hearts are misaligned. They are posers, hypocrites, snake-oil salesmen. They are repulsive, and we all have to be careful not to be them.

This demon knew who to be afraid of, and these boys didn't fit the bill. So much so that they got a good old-fashioned whoopin' to remind them that next time they better bring the goods. They were completely unprepared, out of their league, and paid the price.

Are you showing up prepared or just faking it 'til you make it?

Are you showing up prepared or just faking it 'til you make it? Have you done the work to bring authentic help from the perspective of expertise, or simply a surface-level screenshot of borrowed credibility? Do you just have the book, or have you actually read the book?

People feel authenticity and identify with credibility, especially when it comes to your faith. Having fancy scripts and incantations may get you on the big stage, but if you don't deliver the goods, be prepared to walk off battered and humiliated.

"I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?"

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