Skip to main content

(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 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

(Perspective) Biblical: Freedom In The House Of Mourning

Countless times I've expressed the expansive variety of options we're gifted here on Earth. Why do we limit ourselves to options ABCD, though? We're told we have free will. We're told we can do what we want with our bodies and choose when to have kids  But what does it really look like to have free will? I'll tell you now. Not caring about the options at all. Seeing everything as a gift. Realizing this world was designed to be enjoyed and lived in to the fullest extent possible. Again, why limit ourselves to simple options? Pick whatever car you want (as long as it's the color options they've presented you with.) Eat whatever type of french fry, icecream, or food that is available on the menu list at your favorite restaurant. We have personal preferences and there's nothing wrong with having options and opinions. The question poised here is simple: Are you really free, or just given options?  I was blessed to hear a wonderful sermon that presented this w...
Post a Comment
Read more

15 December 2021 Dream

Dream last night was trying to meet someone outside to talk in person. Guess I got impatient.  Was outside at night fall. Was able to read street sign that read "Lara". Walked down the road to food joint. Inside I see some small black square shaped folding table, that some well dressed Mexican man was holding up, then allowed to fall and collapse. I was frustrated and annoyed that he left that mess. I attempted to fix the table. He quietly laughed to himself at my struggle.  I start laughinig like him in a mocking way. There were a couple of small stuffed pillows that I tossed to the ground with every laugh walking towards him. He looked at me pissed off and angry. A full cup of Coke in a paper cup with the lid on sat on the table where he stood next to it. He knocked it over and it spilled all over the floor leaving a long trail throughout the entire length of the restaurant. I hopped over it and said, "I'm not cleaning that. Guess everyone will have sticky feet the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Respect Rules and Regulations

2 Timothy 2:5  "And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." I find it interesting how mad people can get when a referee makes a bad call during a sporting event. I find it very interesting how angered and outraged a group of peoople will act when they're under the impression their team should have won, and lost due to rules being broken and someone failing to do their job right and make the correct call.  Many of these same people committed to these teams and their strict terms of correctness, also tend to ignore many rules of life.   I won't deny  that many rules are arbitrary, don't make sense and are designed to disenfranchise groups of people. Many are forced on people that deny your right to life.  Combat those things with respect. If it goes against your conscience which is part of you, you have the right to defend yourself. Those who are in power also are expected to lead, following rules wi...
1 comment
Read more