“Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in sight of everyone.” ~ Acts 19:18-19 NASB
In this story in the book of Acts, we find a picture of true repentance. These new believers fully turned to the Lord and away from the practices that previously held them in bondage. They burned them so that they could not return to them. They also did it in the sight of other believers for accountability and because of the joy of experiencing the true God over counterfeit sin. They did this to completely cut ties with their former self and its practices.
How often I treat repentance as a partial turning. I don’t take the necessary steps to cut ties with that sin. Yes, I confess and turn for a time, but I still leave wiggle room so that I can come back and dabble in it again. And I don’t share about it with others, but choose to deal with it on my terms and in privacy. I do this partially because I feel as if I will be judged by those who are even close to me and partially because I want to be able to return to the sin in times of stress and coping.
In this scripture I see some principles, that if followed, would bring about much freedom in my life and in the lives of those who trust in Jesus. First and foremost, sin and the enemy operate most effectively in darkness and secrecy. By confessing to those who you trust and who love Jesus, you disarm the enemy. He can no longer stand as your accuser bringing doubt and condemnation. He loses his power!
Secondly, burn the pathways that can lead you back to participating in that sin that has so easily entangled you. For these new believers, they created boundaries for re-entering into their lifestyles of sin by burning the very books that they would use in the practice of magic. Creating boundaries in your life by burning sin bridges is not legalism. It’s a healthy step that allows the Lord’s Spirit to bring the refining work of sanctification over your life.
What do you need to bring into the light? Who’s a safe believer that you can confess with to disarm the enemy in this area of your life? What are your magic books and what would it look like to burn them? These are all questions that I’m asking myself this morning. Maybe you could do the same?