Manifesting your gift: Don’t try this on your own! Rely on The Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:11-20 NIV.

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and
aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were
cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out
evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were
demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I
command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were
doing this. 15 [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know
about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on
them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out
of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and
Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and
openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery
brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated
the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way
the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
The Message bible puts verse 11 This way Acts 19:11 God did powerful things
through Paul, things quite out of the ordinary. While The Amplified reads… Acts
19:11 And God did unusual and extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
I WANT YOU TO SHOUT I AM ANOINTED TO LIVE THIS LIFE.
DECREE OVER THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THAT THEY SHALL DO UNUSUAL MIRACLES
OUT OF THE EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE THEY ARE ANOINTED!
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received (GRK – LAMBANO –
meaning to catch, obtain, come upon, receive, take) of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in
him.
The word anointing from the text in 1 John 2:27 comes from the Greek word
CHRISMA meaning a smearing a special endowment by the Holy Ghost, an
unction to function. (Explain smearing this way The origin of anointing was from a
practice of shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of
sheep, and when they got near the sheep's head, they could burrow into the
sheep's ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep's
head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the
sheep's ears because the insects would slide off. From this, anointing became
symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.) God wants you to know
that you have unction to function and the anointing is in you.
The anointing is a helper, it’s a PARACLETES it’s a SUCCOR, it’s an aid an
empowerment to achieve supernatural and extra-ordinary results in your life and
destiny. (From The Word PARAKLETOS) meaning one that stands along to help
you , (Remember the Bible calls The Holy Ghost, ALLOS PARAKLETOS, another one
of the same kind) most of the time the anointing makes it look easy on you, in fact
it makes it look easy on what you have been called to do by God. The anointing is
the enablement that God adds his super to your natural and you begin to operate
in supernatural dimensions far above your ability. It is the power that makes you
do things you cannot do on your own. It enables you to lift more load and do
exploits though you are frail. The anointing blinds you to the ‘heaviness’ of the
assignment ahead of you because it equips you and makes you ready. The
anointing gifts you for your assignment.
The anointing of God is His enablement upon you to serve his agenda and not
yours! Remember that God can take substandard weak frail, imperfect vessels
and perform supernatural feats. That way you may know that it was his
enablement that was at work at you and that you could not make it on your
own. The anointing cannot be bought, imitated, photocopied. You either have it
or you don’t.
THE BIBLE SAYS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS MADE ME SOBER IN JUDGES
16:20 NKJV And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke
from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself
free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. DON’T YOU TRY
IT ON YOUR OWN!
If you took the head of Goliath and examined the stone that David used to kill
him, you will discover it was just an ordinary rock, there was nothing exceptional
about the rock. if you raised David and look at his slingshot, you will discover that
it had no power to kill an 8fter, 12 towed giant, there was nothing exceptional on
the sling. The sling was actually a child’s play toy. but God got behind, the
slingshot and the stone. HEAR THIS… IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR EXCEPTIONAL
EQUIP MENT YOU WILL NOT MANIFEST YOUR GIFTS. IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR
THE RIGHT CONDITIONS YOU WILL MISS GOD, AS THE WATERS ARE BEING
STIRRED JUMP INTO YOUR SEASON. PONDER THIS AGAIN ...THE ONLY WAY YOU
KNOW THAT YOU ARE ANOINTED IS WHEN GOD TAKES SUB-STANDARD
EQUIPMENT (YOU) AND YOU PERFOM SUPERNATURAL EXPLOITS)
In out text on Acts 19:11 Apostle Paul was so anointed, that handkerchiefs and
aprons that touched his skin healed the sick, and cast out devils, he did not have
to cast out devils by speaking, his skin was enough. He was not even aware that
his skin was healing the sick, he was so drunk of the Holy Ghost and his
assignment, he perhaps did not realize the extent of the power he carried. HE
WAS SO ANOINTED HE MADE MINISTRY EASY! HE WAS SO ANOINTED HE
AFFECTED THE ATMOSPHERE, HE DID NOT HAVE TO SPEAK, ANYTHING
CONNECTED TO HIM WAS ANOINTED.
The sons of Sceva saw this and thought they could also do it. Remember this they
were sons of a Jewish priest; they were attracted to the power of Christ but did
not believe in Christ. Just because we see someone do something for the Lord
does not mean we are equipped to do the same thing. I remember an experience
that I had one day while driving down the road. I was singing along with the
Christian song on the radio. I thought to myself, “I sound as good as the people
singing the song.” Just about the time I was really into it good ~ the station was
knocked off the air. Suddenly, I was singing the same song all by myself. There
was no music, no other singers to back me up with harmony. It was just me and it
sounded terrible! The same thing is true in my Christian life. I can’t look at the
way the Lord is using somebody else and try to be just like they are. I can learn
from a lot of people but I must always remember that without the Lord then I can
do nothing.
3. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ANOINTING.
1. THE HOLY GHOST IS THE ANOINTING OF GOD.
Settle this in your heart, The Holy Ghost, is the anointing of God, He is the one at
work in you strengthening you and enabling you with superhuman strength, to do
superhuman exploits. Apostle Paul says in Col 1:29 AMP For this I labor [unto
weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily
enkindles and works within me. How do I know He is the anointing?
Acts 10:38 KJV How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil; for God was with him. listen to Isaiah 61:1 KJV The Spirit of the Lord GOD is
upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Our LORD Jesus
Christ repeats this scripture about himself in Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath
sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised
2. EVERY BELIEVER HAS THE ANOINTING.
The Bible says in 1 John 2:20 AMP But you have been anointed by [you hold a
sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One,
and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. KJV Says in Verse 20 But ye
have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. The Message Bible
says something powerful 1 John 2:20-21 20 But you belong. The Holy One
anointed you, and you all know it. 21 I haven't been writing this to tell you
something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind
you that the truth doesn't breed lies. The Word of God continues to say in (MSG)
1 John 2:27 But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you —
Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's
anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself
and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.
YOU HAVE THE TAKING OVER ANOINTING, TAKE OVER YOU LIFE, MARRIAGE,
FINANCES, DESTINY, YOU HAVE GOT WHAT IT TAKES, THE ANOINTING ABIDES IN
YOU!
3. THE ANOINTING BREAKS THE YOKE.
Isaiah 10:27 KJV And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be
taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke
shall be destroyed because of the anointing. It is the anointing of God that breaks
yokes, listen to Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let your garments always be white, And let your
head lack no oil. It is when you lack the Oil of the Holy Ghost that the enemy
oppresses you, remember he raises a standard according to Isaiah 59:19. MAY
YOUR HEAD NEVER LACK OIL, DON’T TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN. He Bible says in 2
Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.
BACK TO OUR TEXT IN ACTS 19:11
LESSON THAT THE SONS OF SCEVA WOULD TEACH US TODAY IF THEY WERE
ALIVE…

1. VICTORY IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT LOOKS FROM OUTSIDE. Any person

experiencing victory has had battles before. You cannot have victory
without warfare. The sons of sceva wanted to take a shortcut to what had
taken Apostle Paul about 18 years to grow in. They came into the picture at
the end of his ministry, when God had dealt with him and perfected him.
They were not there when God was perfecting his revelation in his life in
Arabia Galatians 1:17 KJV Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which
were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto
Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter,
and abode with him fifteen days. Look again at Galatians 2:1 KJV Then
fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took
Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto
them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them
which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in
vain. He had been in the cold, in the night, shipwrecked, beaten by roads,
spend much time hungry in the cold in the night. Yet the sons of sceva were
 not there when he was going through. THEY WANTED A SHORTCUT TO
WHAT HAD TAKEN APOSTLE PAUL YEARS.
LOOK AT WHAT HE WENT THROUGH IN HIS LIFE. 2 Corinthians 11:25 NKJV Three
times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a
night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in
perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what
comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and
I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If
I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the
Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a
basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. GET ME RIGHT,
GOD WILL BLESS YOU ABUNDATLY BUT NOT THROUGH MICRO-WAVE
MIRACLES, HE IS ABLE TO DO IN A DAY WHAT OTHER TAKE YEARS, BUT HE SAYS
IN HIS TIME HE MAKES ALL THING BEAUTIFUL, NOT YOUR TIME BUT HIS TIME.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has
put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God
does from beginning to end.

2. MORE NUMBERS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN MORE POWER.

They were seven sons sceva trying to do what one anointed Apostle was
doing easily.
Just because the enemy seems like he outnumbers you doesn’t mean he
will beat you down. Just because numerically it seems you do not have the
numerical support system you need. Ask Elijah one anointed Man who
stood against 450 baal prophets. There is nothing than the real anointing.
Generally, when you are anointed the odds are against you. BUT IF GOD BE
FOR YOU! That is why David said in Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my
salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom
 shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. The sons of
Sceva had been studying Paul and his ministry but they were not convinced
of his Gospel. They had never been converted into his ministry, but they
were attracted to the glory in his life. Just because people are with you
does not mean they are really with you.

3. One day evil will answer those who pretend.

Acts 19:13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to
invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.
THEY WOULD SAY, "IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOM PAUL PREACHES, I
COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT." 14 SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA, A JEWISH
CHIEF PRIEST, WERE DOING THIS. 15 [ONE DAY] THE EVIL SPIRIT
ANSWERED THEM, "JESUS I KNOW, AND I KNOW ABOUT PAUL, BUT WHO
ARE YOU?" Things can only go so far so long, one day there will be truth or
consequences, one day the only way you will survive is if you have the real
stuff, one day the evil will come to test whether you are made of the stuff
you preach about, one day you will have to stand on a test, one day you will
have to prove all things, believe all things, bear all things endure all things
and having done all to stand continue to stand, one day you will have to live
by faith and not by sight, One day you will have to stand with the word of
God even though it doesn’t seem to work. One day you will have to trust
God even though you don’t know where he is taking you, one day you will
have to confess you are healed even though you haven’t seen your healing.
DON’T YOU TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN! Child of God you are fighting with a
real hateful devil, a no-holds bar fight and he is not fighting fair, he will he
will hit you anywhere, He is not waiting on the bell to ring to begin the fight
that is why you have got to put your cute self out and wage war! You better
put the whole armor of God! Ephesians 6:11 NKJV Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Cover
everything but you back because you back is covered by the angelic
hosts/army, backing you. that is why you cannot turn your back from the
 fight. GOD DON’T WANT NO COWARD SOLDIERS, GOD DON’T NEED
COWARD SOLDIERS, GOD WONT HAVE NO COWARD SOLDIERS!

4. satan’s Kingdom Is Aware Who You Are.

Acts 19:15 NIV [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I
know about Paul, but who are you?" He is watching you, he is attracted to
the anointing, remember he used to have it and he knows what it means to
the Oil. Listen to the intelligence of the spirit in verse 15. That is why we
teach the Gospel to make you know who you are through God’s word.
SOMETIMES THE DEVIL KNOWS BETTER WHO YOU ARE THAN YOU, THAT IS
WHY YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE A LIFE OF PITY PARTY LOW SELF
ESTEEM AND BE INSECURE NOT KNOWING WHO YOU ARE. HE IS FIGHTING
YOU ON A HIGHER LEVEL AND YOU ARE WAITING FOR HIM TO FEEL SORRY
FOR YOU! HE IS AWARE WHO YOU ARE! Proof he knows who you are? Job
1:8 NKJV Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant
Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,
one who fears God and shuns evil?"9 So Satan answered the LORD and
said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?10 "Have You not made a hedge
around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every
side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land. HE SAID HE KNOW EXACTLY WHO JOB WAS BECAUSE
HE HAD TRIED TO ATTACK HIM AND FAILED BECAUSE OF THE HEDGE GOD
HAD PLACE ON HIM, SEE GOD HAS GOT YOU COVERED IN AREAS YOU
DON’T EVEN KNOW. THAT IS WHY ISAIAH SAYS IN Isaiah 59:19 KJV So shall
they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the
rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the
LORD will lift up a standard against him. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind. Have you gotten to a relationship with Christ that has cause
satan to know your name? Question is, do you know who you are? I AM A
BLOOD WASHED, SANCTIFIED, HOLY GHOST FILLED CHILD OF GOD, I COME
FROM A GENERATIONS OF WARRIORS, I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY ROOTS LIKE
ESTHER AND RUTH AND SAMSON AND DAVID, I DESTINED TO REIGN, I
BORN A WINNER, MORE THAN VICTORIOUS, THE GREATER ONE LIVE INSIDE
OF ME, ALL THAT I AM I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
5. YOU CAN’T USE CHRIST’S NAME EFFECTIVELY IF YOU ARE NOT
CONVINCED OF HIS POWER.

The Name of Jesus is not witchcraft; it is not using magic names or wearing
magical clothes so that you can do magical things. You have to believe in
His Name before the first punch is thrown. Don’t fight in your name. Use
the name of Jesus!

Why the Name of Jesus!

Psalm 124:8 KJV Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven
and earth.
Proverbs 18:10 KJV The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous
runneth into it, and is safe.

Acts 2:21 KJV And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.

Mark 16:17 KJV And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Luke 10:19 KJV Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you.

John 14:14 KJV If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 16:24 KJV Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him
a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
 I AM TALKING ABOUT JESUS, THE WAY MAKER, JESUS THE MIRACLE
WORKER, JESUS THE REDEEMER, JESUS MY ADVOCATE, JESUS MY
SAVIOUR, JESUS MY BONDAGE BREAKER, JESUS MY COMPLETENESS.
JESUS MY FORTRESS, JESUS MY LIVING WATERS, JESUS MY BREAD OF
LIFE, JESUS MY LIFE, JESUS MY LOAD CARRIER, MY YOKE BREAKER. JESUS
THE POWER! JESUS THE STORM QUIETER! JESUS THE HEALER! JESUS THE
RESSURECTOR!

HE IS ABLE DO EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL YOU MAY ASK OR

THINK.

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN, EVERY

BONDAGE, EVERY CURSE, EVERY DISEASE

6. IMITATION ONLY PROVES WHAT IS AUTHENTIC. This attempt failed and

proved to the critics that what Apostle Paul had was real. There is no
denying it after the men left naked and wounded. The news spread after
this event and in verse 17 we discover that “…the name of the Lord Jesus
was magnified.”