In the early days of AOL chats there were many chats on many topics. Some rooms were about accusations and debates. One type of room was called Christians vs Atheists. I don't think there were any winners in that room. It was a place to argue and I do not enjoy arguing. One night when I was in one of our ministry rooms, a teenager that I knew from our church came in the room in a panic followed by several who were chasing him. He had entered a demonic chat room of some sort and wanted to debate them and confront them. He was way over his head. We do not debate with demonic people, we speak the word of God with his power. You must have the Holy Spirit and be led to speak his word. It is not wise to chase after demons, they will find you if you witness the gospel truth. Here in Acts 19 is an example of people pretending to have the power of God who were taught a lesson.
Act 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
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.
Act 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Act 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
The seven son's of Sceva were vagabond Jews. They were wandering around claiming to be exorcists, who bind spirits by some kind of spell. They saw what Paul was doing and wanted to be like him, casting out demons. They tried to cast out demons by the name of the Jesus that Paul preached. They spoke of the Jesus that Paul preached; a second hand knowledge of Jesus. They were overcome, beaten and they ran away naked and shamed. Do we use someone else's Jesus, or our our own personal relationship with him? I have heard second hand preachers, but to witness, to heal and to cast out demons we need to know Jesus and the power of his indwelling Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment