A Spiritual Battle

We find Paul in the city of Ephesus. When he came to the city he found some who were disciples of John the Baptist, but who had not yet heard of Jesus. Paul explains to them the gospel, they believe, are baptized, and the Holy Spirit falls on them similar what he had done at Pentecost. Paul continued teaching daily for more than two years and he saw a fruitful ministry begin to grow.

Acts 19:11-20

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 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.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Introduction

Ajibola

Perhaps you’ve heard stories similar to what I heard from Ajibola. Maybe it was from a missionary speaker who ministers in an exotic country.

I come away with this thought:

If the story is true, then how do I live in THAT kind of power?

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Does anyone else wrestle with this idea?

• My dad used to carry a handkerchief and I can guarantee you it did not carry anything miraculous!

• Word here is the idea of a sort of sweatband or belt that Paul used while working - gross!

The only other example of something similar is found in Luke 8 with Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus’ garment and was healed.

Many scholars struggle with this passage - some more liberal deny it actually happened

There are three options: Made-up, Magic, or Miracle

we shouldn’t use it as prescriptive (Pastor Tom sweatbands for sale)

Not man-made:

difficulty of the passage lends to its authenticity

Luke, the Greek doctor, would have explored the more naturalistic explanation before writing what he did.

Not magic:

magic would be tricky at best and demonic at worst

It’s a miracle!

you cannot be a Christian and not believe in miracles

because the resurrection is either man-made, a magic, or a miracle

The miracles were: diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Perhaps the reason why God worked this way at Ephesus - Ephesus was steeped in magic - God was working within the culture to make the name of Jesus great.

While we may have some questions about how this worked or why this worked, it does show us that

The spiritual world is real (11-12).

Clinton E. Arnold, Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul's Letters (Do-wners Grove:IVP, 1992),p. I I writes:

"Ultimately we cannot ignore the topic. Evil imposes itself upon us and those we love. And if we want help from the Bible for dealing with the problem of evil, we must be willing to take seriously what the Bible takes seriously; the intense involvement in life of a figure named Satan and his powers of darkness. Far too long the Western church has given neither sufficient nor serious attention to this topic. My Asian and African students tell me this repeatedly. They acknowledge a tremendous debt to the Western church for rich biblical teaching that has been passed on to them, but they cannot understand why so little has been offered on this topic. For them the issue of developing an appropriate Christian perspective on spirits is a foundational concern."

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Be aware

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

— C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

We don’t often see events of the spiritual world play out around us for two main reasons:

1. Miracles to the frequency of that which we see here typically accompany new works of God that they might be an authentication of his work or his workers.

2. I believe we typically don’t see the spiritual world so visibly around us today because we don’t need to.

I fear that in America spiritual complacency is more effective than spiritual confrontation in steering hearts away from the gospel.

ILLUST - Never use a wrench as a hammer. 

Satan knows that a culture that prides itself on being both naturalistic and scientific will not find attractive manifestations of the spiritual world.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, (not sometimes it is spiritual warfare) but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Whether we have seen it or not, we must not be blind to the reality that the spiritual world is not “out there” but “right here.”

ILLUST - Band of Brothers: Easy Company arrives at one edge of a town and are to rendezvous with another group of soldiers at the other end of town. They weren’t expecting a large group of German infantry with heavy guns and tanks swarming all over the middle of the town.

Recognizing that if they can’t make contact with the other group of soldiers they may be abandoned, one young Lt. decides to run straight through the center of town - running right past the Germans and right next to their tanks. He was able to accomplish his mission of delivering the message and run back without being shot because the enemy was either too distracted or too stunned by his presence in their midst to do anything.

I feel it is similar for the church only in reverse order. The war is raging around us and we are oblivious or too stunned to actually engage and make any sort of difference.

Be prepared

Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but (we do wrestle) against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The question is not “IF you will encounter spiritual warfare,” but “how are you currently engaged with spiritual warfare?”

Today, right now, we are engaged in spiritual warfare.

The name of Jesus is powerful (13-17).

13 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.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Recognize his power

Ephesus was known for its magical arts. Often, If someone was thought to be oppressed or possessed by an evil spirit, an exorcist would attempt to invoke the name of a more powerful spirit to cast out the old spirit.

• They believed that by invoking the name of a spirit - calling out to it - they could manipulate and control the power of that spirit. (This is common in some parts of the world today)

• We have evidence of ancient magical texts attempting to figure out the name of the Jewish God - as the Jews understood God’s name to be so holy that they would not write it out, these magicians would write out every possible name of God by inserting vowels — hoping to use the power of the Jewish God.

• We also have evidence of magical exorcists using Jesus’ name as well.

It is not the name itself that has the power - it is all that the name represents

• The name of Jesus points to the Person of Jesus

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Respect his purpose

14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. (attempting to exorcise demons using Jesus’ name)

seven sons - or seven partners

Sceva - not THE official Jewish high priest - may not have been a priest - may have used the title thinking people would respect it more.

16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

The power of Jesus’ name is not for our own desires. You can’t use the name of Jesus for personal gain.

*******How do we use Jesus’ name for personal gain***********

Receive him personally

One way to NOT misuse the name of Jesus is to KNOW Jesus

Just because you know OF Jesus does not know you know Jesus.

15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

The demons know OF Jesus:

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Luke 4:31–34 ESV

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. . . . 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Demons have the best theology!

Do the demons know you?

How? Why did they know Paul?

Hell staff meeting?

I want to become so dangerous to the hordes of hell for the glory of God that they know my name and have me on their watchlist!

If you are not covered by the blood of Jesus through trusting in him, then working in the spiritual world is a great danger!

Paul was not concerned

The name of Jesus is the power for:

Freedom

Healing

Salvation

Receive the name of Jesus. Receive Jesus. Receive the power of Jesus.

17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

What would be your reaction if you saw the spiritual world open up right before you?

fear - not of God’s goodness or lack thereof but fear /awe of God’s greatness

 What is the ‘this’ that caused fear among the believers?

That the demons were so powerful? No, they were believers - it was clear that Jesus was most powerful.

That the name of Jesus couldn’t be manipulated and used for magical purposes. No, they ‘extolled’ the name of Jesus.

Following Jesus means everything (18-20).

18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

It seems to be that these men were dabbling with Jesus as magic instead of being fully devoted to him as Lord.

SIDE NOTE - the result of spiritual warfare should ALWAYS be that Jesus name is made famous - not yours, not mine.

“extolling” - mega

What we see here is an awakening for the believers in Ephesus.

These were believers who trusted in Jesus AND held onto the things of their old life which they trusted in as well.

Magic was their avenue / source of power, provision, etc.

To fully follow Jesus means you see him as your ultimate source of power, provision.

To trust in Jesus AND something else is to NOT trust in Jesus at all

• Jesus + bank account

• Jesus + our spouse

• Jesus + my job

To fully commit to Jesus is not without sacrifice, however.

And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

• about 50,000 day’s wages = $7 million!

BUT, what happens if we give up all other areas of power and provision?

How will you be able to take on the spiritual forces and evil around you?

What about all that is coming against you right now?

2 Kings 6:15–17 ESV

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Ajibola prayed

Result?

20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

What would change in your life if you could see the spiritual world around you?

What needs to change or sacrificed to follow Jesus fully?

Confess and divulge anything that keeps you from being fully devoted and pray for the powerful name of Jesus to bring freedom!