Moments of mass repentance?
When God is at work in a group of people, that's what you'll see. Here, in Acts 19, it's right there - the people came forward and confessed their evil deeds. Brought them out into the open.
The result?
"In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power" (19:20).
Let me get this straight. Some so-called Christians actually came clean and revealed their own sins, rather than trying to judge others? Some "believers" were moved to the point of broken, honest, repentant action? Some men and women actually started to live out a fear of God as if that were more important than the fear of men?
Yes, yes, and yes.
And some pretty exciting things happened here...
Sorcery scrolls and secrets were burned in public. The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. The word of the LORD spread and grew in power.
Apparently, it is possible for the "word of the Lord" to "grow" in power... it's right there in the text.
It's powerful when others see it's not just talk.
It's powerful when we're willing to rearrange our lives, humble ourselves, and become "living sacrifices" to God.
It's powerful when people give of their material goods in exchange for something priceless. Apparently, those sorcery texts they burned were worth 50,000 drachmas. In today's dollar value, 50,000 drachmas = a lot of money!!!
People won't want your faith unless they see you sacrifice for it. Unless they see you change. Unless they see that you are honest and sorry about your sin.
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Dear God, I pray that you would help my sin get out into the open. Help me confess it to you and to those around me that are affected by it. Even those who are not, and can love and forgive me and keep me accountable. I want to focus on the things about my life that are priceless.. I want to focus on you, and see your word spread with power in my life and relationships...
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