Acts 19:13-16 – Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”” People are always looking for programs, for systems, and for ways that work for other people and then to copy or imitate them in hopes that it works for them. Too often trying to imitate other people, other pastors, or other churches is much the same thing. Some things God tells us to imitate (John 13:12-15, 1 Peter 2:21, Hebrews 13:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:9). We should model our lives first of all after Christ, then maybe one of the Apostles, or perhaps someone more contemporary who walk, or walked, with Christ. Unless we’re talking about Jesus, we should can gain from Godly examples, but we should not fashion ourselves to be clones. We know that God has made us all unique, that is unique people, unique churches, and unique small groups. What one person or group is called to do does not mean that God would have us all to do. Though taking this verse somewhat out of context, but still the principle is useful to us, people who do such things are exhibiting “having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2 Timothy 3:5) Churches that blindly follow programs and policies because these have worked for another church are missing the point. The programs and policies are not what caused a church to be blessed, it is God who blessed these things to bless the church. The source of the blessings is not the program or policy but the source of the blessing is God Himself. It is like going to the coast to enjoy it and God provides a wonderful encounter with Himself. Then the blessed person thinks the location is blessed and tries to go back to the same location at the same time to get another encounter with God. That person errs in thinking that the location provided the encounter with God. The blessing of the encounter with God was something that the Lord gave. The location had nothing to do with it, it could have occurred on the beach, a mountaintop, or in a prison cell. So it is that churches err. It is not that they could see a great book or program that has blessed another church, then pray to God whether He would bless their church in the same manner? If God directs, and He may, then by all means do it. But all leaders of churches must remember that doing something that works for another church does not, in and of itself, mean it will work for their church. Likewise, people need to be wise about why something has worked for another person. If one has not been gifted by God to be an NBA center, then another should not have a goal of their career being an NBA center unless they are also likewise gifted by God. Similarly, spiritually, we all should follow general biblical principles about how to live for Christ, but we should seek out the individual and specific ways God leads us to serve Him. Not everyone is a pastor, a teacher, or a worship leader. Some are Sunday school teachers for adults or for children. Some are ushers or perhaps handymen or tradesmen who can donate their time and abilities. We all serve God in different ways. Churches are called by God to meet their community needs in different ways. It is not the program, principle or dynamic personality of an individual that should guide us. What should guide us is the Holy Spirit within. We should learn to know His voice and His leading. That is what we follow. Everything else may work miracles for some, but for others will lay dormant on the ground. Only follow God as He calls, whether for congregation of person.
“Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.” This is who these seven men announced themselves of being. It is likely this was a misrepresentation to promote themselves. There seems to be no proof that there was ever a chief priest named Sceva.
“One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” These men were spiritually ignorant brutes. Among us today are many who do not know the Lord and are the same as these seven, trying to discern or imitate what they cannot because they have not received Jesus and so do not have the Holy Spirit within them. People who think being loving, or nice, or kind, or generous, or courageous, or even dying for another empowers them to be considered worthy of God’s favor are deceived (Ephesians 2:8-9). Though the Word of God calls for Believers to have these characteristics, they will only benefit those who come down the one road that leads to the Father and that road is Jesus. These seven men did not understand that it is not the actions, or the location, or the person that provides blessings and power from God, it is only God. These demons did not cower or obey the words the words of Paul when these men said them, because they were not Paul who had the Holy Spirit within, but these men did not. The demons knew what these men did not. The power they wanted was granted only by God, whom they did not know. These men were beaten and ran away in shame because instead of seeking God through Jesus, they sought to have power by their own design. Everyone today who seeks to live a good life and be worthy of heaven without knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord will one day be carried away by angels from the presence of God and be thrown into eternal punishment (Matthew 7:21-23, Revelation 21:15). But those who understand that miraculous power and blessings in this life and that spending eternity with God only comes only through loving and serving Jesus in this life we have before our physical death (Revelation 21:3-4). After that, it is too late.
Family, praise God that we know that all blessings and all good things come from God (James 1:17). That whether we pray and the sick are healed, or the demons are exorcised, or the child gets the toy that it wanted, the blessing is from our good, our loving and are wonderful God. Praise God! Thank you Jesus! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”