By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: Acts
19:11-20
Acts
19:15
And
the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are
you?”
(NKJV)
Since the fall of Adam
and Eve, the world has been engaged in spiritual warfare, but God promised a
savior in Genesis
3:15. This savior is Jesus Christ, and those who have surrendered their
lives to Him can resist the devil (James
4:7), having access to the armor of God (Ephesians
6:10-18). Some Jewish exorcists, seven sons of Sceva, and a Jewish chief
priest learned this lesson the hard way.
God began to work unusual
miracles through Paul, with handkerchiefs or aprons that Paul had worn being
brought to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits leaving them (Acts
19:11-12). Seeing these miracles prompted some itinerant Jewish exorcists
to call the name of Jesus over those with evil spirits, saying to them that
they exorcise them by the name of Jesus that Paul preaches (Acts
19:13). Seven sons of Sceva and a Jewish chief priest also joined with them
(Acts
19:14). In response to their attempts to exorcise the demon, it told them
that it knew Jesus and Paul but asked them who they were (Acts
19:15).
Then the possessed man leaped
on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, causing them to flee the
house naked and wounded (Acts
19:16). Word of this event became known to all Jews and Greeks living in
Ephesus, causing them to fear but also causing the name of the Lord to be
magnified (Acts
19:17). Many who came to believe came confessing and telling their deeds (Acts
19:18). Many who had practiced magic brought their books and burned them in
the sight of all, with the value of the books totaling fifty thousand pieces of
silver (Acts
19:19). The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (Acts
19:20).
While there is power in
the name of Jesus, it is not some magic word anyone can use to heal the sick or
cast out demons. Unfortunately, these Jewish exorcists, the seven sons of
Sceva, and a chief priest thought they could just throw the name of Jesus around
and achieve the same results as Paul. The demon in this account was correct in
stating that it knew Jesus (James
2:19) and Paul (Acts
19:12) but did not know them (Acts
2:19). This is why, instead of leaving the man he possessed, the demon was
able to overpower and humiliate the Jewish exorcists. While Scripture does say
that in Jesus’s name people could cast out demons (Mark
16:17), this sign is for those that believe. Paul had expressed his belief
in Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts
9:1-9) and therefore had the authority to use the name of Jesus. The
problem with these Jewish exorcists, the seven sons of Sceva and the chief
priest, is that they believed the name of Jesus was some new magic incantation.
They soon found out that the power in the name of Jesus was when it came from
one having a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Television and theaters
are inundated with programs and movies dealing with the paranormal. The word
paranormal covers any event, power, or phenomenon that current science cannot
explain. This includes ghosts, hauntings, ESP, psychokinesis, cryptids, and
UFOs. This differs from the supernatural, which refers to events outside the
laws of nature tied to belief in something supernatural. Those dabbling in
searching for ghosts and hauntings do not understand that they are engaging in
spiritual warfare, a battle that is not against flesh and blood but wickedness
in heavenly places (Ephesians
6:12). The weapons of this battle are not electronic gadgets, but the armor
of God and prayer (Ephesians
6:10-18). Disciples of Christ are also to resist the devil (James
4:7) and not actively go out seeking demons to cast out. Even Jesus did not
actively go out seeking demons to cast out, only doing so when he encountered
them.
This is not to belittle
the presence of demonic forces in our world, as evidenced by the level of
senseless evil in the world, but a call for us to arm ourselves with the armor
of God. However, this armor is not available to just anyone, but only to those
submitting their lives to God (James
4:7). We live in an evil world, and I advise everyone reading this not to
leave home without having the armor of God on. If you are reading this and
would like access to the armor of God but have never prayed for the forgiveness
of your sins and to submit your life to God, I invite you to do so now by
praying with me.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23).
I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave,
and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.
Just as the name of Jesus
is not some magical word, this prayer is not some magical prayer, but it must
be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured,
your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage
you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of
truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you
can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading
this post.
