There are many false prophets and charlatans out there who claim to have special “gifts” and “powers” as long as they invoke supposedly unpronounceable name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They expel demons, they heal, they bring about prosperity, and worst of all they give false Hope and preach false Gospel to the world who need it most.
There is a passage in the Book of Acts which tells us about “certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists” who decided to “call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus“. They thought if they use the name of the Lord Jesus, like some kind of magic word, the evil spirit will obey them. They said: “we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth“(Acts 19:13). And here what was extorted from the mouth of the demon by the power of God: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19:15), saying, “I know Jesus Christ who overcame and took control over the evil spirits and principalities. I know Paul who has given authority in the name of Jesus his Lord and Savior. But who you are? Who gave you power and authority to command in His name? What have you to do with the power of the Son of God? You nor confess, neither believe in Him!” That was said to shame those false prophets and to bring about the glory to the Gospel (Acts 19:16,17).
Those Jewish exorcists, the seven sons of Sceva the chief priest, were not Christians. They nor confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is their Lord, neither they believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Scripture
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. -- 1 John 4:4 KJV
Observation
The power and authority what those Jewish exorcists tried to exercise over the demon possessed man were not in them. It is not that they did not have enough of faith or they said wrong words. It is simply, that the Spirit of God was not in them. “Ye are of God, little children“, we as Christians adopted “by Jesus Christ to himself” (Ephesians 1:5). By His grace, through faith, which is gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). We have earned nothing, therefore we cannot command anything. We will “overcome them“, the evil spirits, only by the power of God. “Because greater is he that is in you“, the Holy Spirit indwells in us. He empowers His children with “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2) through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- Have you ever wrestled with any type of problem when the only way to solve it is with the help of a higher authority?
- Did you believe in their ability to help you?
- Do you know what is your identity?
- Do you know that you are a son/daughter of God through Jesus Christ?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, you are God of the Universe what You have created. You and only You, Lord God, is almighty! We thank You, Lord, that you adopted us into your family through our Lord Jesus. We thank You, Jesus Christ, that You have overcame all evil and rescued us from the power of darkness. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us and strengthen our faith always. Please, use us for the furtherance of Your Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen
