Pass/fail

 In the 90's I was in a class and I received a 92 on a test, it was a hard test, not every one did well and there was a dissension in the class. It seems that some were upset that it was so hard and they couldn't pass the test. 

Well the professor decided he was going to grade on a curve. He lowered the bar so that people who did not work so hard could be as fortunate as the ones who did work hard, that was the first time I had ever heard of grading on a curve.

The worst part of this is that it was a Christian College and that the ones complaining about it being hard were future pastors, missionaries and evangelists. I was very put out with these people who thought they deserved a better score, when I had done all I needed to do to make sure I was prepared. It struck me as odd that these men thought the task they were preparing for was going to be easy.

Yet it seems that even in Paul and Peter's time it was the same. Those who thought they could circumvent actually being of God, and just call on the name without knowing the God in who the power belonged to. Those who thought they could do the things that Peter and Paul could do with out actually knowing what they were doing or attempting to do, or the One who they were calling on.

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 

The 7 sons of Sceva called out to rid the people of the demons that Paul in Jesus' name cast out, yet they knew not the Jesus that Paul knew.

They were standing up in the strength of their own understanding, their own flesh and they failed miserably.

The demon was aware of Jesus and was aware of Paul, but these demons knew the fakers, and wow did they pay the price. 

The sons of Sceva got tested and they were not ready for it. They stood up in their self importance and they called out a power they knew not, The demon however was prepared and ready.

What we do in the ministry is neither easy, nor will it ever be free of trouble and pain. If we are prepared and resting in Him, then we are as prepared as we can be.

The world and satan do not grade on a curve. With them it is pass/fail.