“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,” Luke 9:1
As I’ve mentioned before, these Posts are from my daily Bible Reading. This is where I started today in Luke, where Jesus commissions the 12 to go throughout Israel, preaching and healing. What struck me today is that Judas is among them; that he was also given “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases”. This was, no doubt, part of the reason the Disciples were so shocked when Jesus said “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me”. He not only had been in their midst for 3 1/2 years, he had been on a couple of preaching tours without rising suspicion.
Which means,…he knew the Message of the Gospel, was able to Preach it, and had Power and Authority to cast out Demons and Heal the Sick! Astounding!!! But, as we know, he was NOT a True Child of God. He appeared to be, and had the other Disciples fooled, but he did not have a Changed Heart or the Spirit of God living inside of him. No doubt, if Jesus had never said anything, the 12 would have never known his real condition. I also find it fascinating that those turned away on the Last Day say “Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” The very things that Judas was doing!
In closing, the message is clear, Gifts and Graces are not a Sign of one’s Spiritual Condition! But as you read through the Gospels, what do we see? Fruit! Over and over we read about Fruit! And as Paul tells us, “the Fruit of the Spirit is Love”. May God give us grace to Abide in Him and bear…
Much Fruit!