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 the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 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.
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. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 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. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭29‬-‭31‬
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.‭‭

I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

How will the people of this world know we are Christians (little Christs)? It is by our love.

I spent much of my adult life confused about what my spiritual gifts are until recently, in prayer, God clarified this for me. I no longer need a “spiritual gifts inventory” or special training to gain a spiritual gift; because that is not how they are given. Read I Corinthians 12 & 13 together. Then do a survey of the spiritual gifts God has given to his people throughout the ages. When has his Spirit been strong in you and gifted you at times, or for a special purpose?

I previously thought spiritual gifts were similar to skills people might have in the world, or supernatural abilities. One might say they have the gift of prophecy, another wisdom, another healing, still another hospitality. But checking a box and thinking about our personal skills we have developed does not make a spiritual gift. Only God’s Spirit can give these. So how does he give them?

Paul gives us the secret at the end of I Corinthians 12: “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” He then proceeds to describe what love is and what love is not. He treated love like a multi-faceted diamond. Love is the main spiritual gift we have been given. All of us have it. Because God first loved us. Faith and hope are added to it as the greater gifts.

Out of a heart after God’s heart, we can love well. When we are loving well — being kind and gracious, bearing with each other, serving and sharing, being gentle and unselfish — then God’s Spirit will gift us with additional spiritual gifts as he decides for his purposes and in the timing he chooses.

The problem with the men in this passage in Acts, who tried to cast out demons, is that they did not have a heart after God’s heart. They were weak in their own power. And they were not in tune with God’s Spirit. They were claiming gifts of God that he clearly had not given them.

Samson had spiritual strength, David was mighty in battle with a sling, Solomon was wise, and Phillip teleported to a different city. God’s Spirit has given me, at times, one-time gifts and at other times areas of gifting. This is the way he works. He gives gifts to us as he sees fit, to accomplish his perfect will in his perfect time. If we forget that and seek after gifts that are showy or that build up our ego or pride, we will be in danger of walking out of step with his Spirit.

Lord, thank you that your Word takes the pressure off of us in the area of spiritual gifts. We are to live well and serve you and you then give us your gifts according to your divine plans, which are good!