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(Perspective) Biblical: "But Who Are You?"

 

Acts 19:11-20

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Seven sons attempted to exorcise demons. One demon takes notice and calls them out. "Jesus, I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"  Then the possessed man attacks the sons. We're not given the conclusion of that incident, just that the message of the Lord grew and prevailed. 

Such as the disciples in Matthew 17;19-25 who could not cast out a particular demon during Jesus's ministry, these Jewish exorcists found themselves in physical danger also unable to cast out a demon. The scriptures state, "Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Was it their hesitance? "Whom Paul preaches..." Was their error not really speaking with full confidence or faith in Christ?  Prayer and fasting was required to cast out the demon Jesus' disciples were unable to. How was this situation handled we are left wondering.

And for ourselves, what can we take from this? There are those called to remove evil spirits. A prayer of mine years ago was for the Lord to save, protect, and comfort victims, and survivors of child and sex trafficking. Tears have poured down my face in the middle of the night crying out for the lost innocent victims and for the parents missing or mourning the loss of their children.

Spiritual attacks, and persecution on the church has been documented throughout the book of Acts and several other places in the Bible. Followers are expected to be hated for the cause of Christ. When we are attacked in such a way from the enemy, evil forces and principalities will jump out. Are you bold to proclaim when asked "Who are you?" That you're a firm and faithful believer in Jesus Christ. 

TGJC Podcast "But Who Are You" 24April2022

https://www.ea.com/games/library/horror 





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