Tag: Acts 19
“Who are you?”
Scripture reading for May 30: Acts 19
“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and diseases left them and evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus Whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that he fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 19:11-16
Everyone likes miracles and Paul the Apostle was used by God in ‘extraordinary’ miracles. Pieces of cloth or handkerchiefs that Paul had kept on his body were sent to the sick and demon possessed and they were made well and cleansed. Some Jewish exorcists observed Paul in action and the disciples that worked with him. They thought that they would just adopt and imitate the formula that he was using so successfully. They carefully used the words, “In the Name of Jesus” but added for clarification “Whom Paul proclaims.” The results were disastrous! The demon in the one they sought to deliver took on all seven of these exorcists and beat them up!
To add insult to injury, the demon spoke to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” That is a penetrating question that begs for an answer. When we try to imitate Jesus or other believers without true faith, we cannot get results. In fact, we may be shown up for the frauds we really are. If we are to be truly used in healing and deliverance, we must know Jesus Christ personally and have the seal of the Holy Spirit declaring we are God’s child. Demon spirits recognize true faith and those marked by God’s Spirit. There is no way we can fake spiritual authority effectively.
How does this record of Scripture help you to understand how spiritual authority operates? How did the evil spirit recognize Paul and Jesus? What was lacking in these Jewish exorcists? Could you face a demonic force with confidence in Jesus Christ?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself to me and filling me with the Holy Spirit. Like the apostles of old, I want to be used by You to bring Good News to those who are hurting and demon possessed or oppressed. Do miracles through me as You have promised in Your Word. Amen.
Receiving the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for May 31st: Acts 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 19:1-2,5-7 “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” . . .”On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”
Nearly twenty years after Pentecost, Paul encountered some disciples of John who had believed in Jesus. They had only received John’s baptism of repentance so Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ and then placed his hands on them. As he did this, the Holy Spirit fell on them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy in the same manner as the original day of Pentecost. Later in this chapter, Paul preached boldly and a revival of repentance broke out where many came and confessed their evil deeds and burned their occult and sorcery paraphernalia. Power was needed to confront the darkness in that city!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers are filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to confront the forces of evil. They seek to help other believers walk in God’s power and anointing as well. “You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.” (Psalm 92:10-11)
Many believed and openly confessed!
Scripture reading for June 1st: Acts 19
The apostle Paul decided to revisit Ephesus on his second missionary journey. As he arrived there he found a group of believers and questioned them. “”Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered him, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.” (Acts 19:2-3) Paul went on to tell them about Jesus and to baptize them in the name of the Lord Jesus. When he laid hands on them they spoke in tongues and prophesied!
This event happened about twenty years after Pentecost! Receiving the Holy Spirit was so important that Paul had them re-baptized after they understood that Jesus was the One John the Baptist had pointed each person to. Repentance is not enough, faith must be in Jesus Christ! The Holy Spirit must empower each person to be a witness of Jesus!
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11-12) God’s grace through Paul brought some Jews to use “the name of Jesus who Paul preaches” to cast out an evil spirit from a man. The evil spirit beat them up and threw them out. This caused a stir in Ephesus and Jesus’ Name was held in great honor. “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and publicly burned them.” . . .”In this way the Word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (Acts 19:19-20)