Acts 19:13-16

The Sons of Sceva: Wanting the Benefits Without the Relationship

Now, let’s set the stage. The apostle Paul is in Ephesus, and God is working mighty miracles through him. People are being healed, demons are being cast out, and the name of Jesus is being magnified. But in the midst of all this, we meet a group of men-the seven sons of Sceva.

These fellas saw the power that came with the name of Jesus. They saw the crowds, the miracles, the authority. And they wanted in on it. But notice what they say: “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Not “our Lord Jesus,” not “the One we trust and serve,” but “the Jesus Paul talks about.”

Church, there are many today who want the blessings of Jesus without surrendering to His lordship. They want the benefits of faith-peace, hope, healing, maybe even a little bit of that prosperity-but they don’t want the relationship. They want to use Jesus’ name like a magic word, a lucky charm, or a get-out-of-jail-free card. But let me tell you, faith doesn’t work that way.

Counterfeit Spirituality Leads to Defeat and Shame

What happened to those sons of Sceva? The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And then, in a scene that must have shocked all of Ephesus, the possessed man leaped on them, beat them, and sent them running out of the house naked and wounded.

That’s what happens when we try to live off borrowed faith. That’s what happens when we try to imitate the motions of Christianity without a heart that belongs to Jesus. Counterfeit spirituality might fool people for a little while, but it cannot stand against the real battles of life. When the storms come, when the enemy attacks, when temptation knocks at the door-borrowed faith will not hold.

Let me say it plain: you can’t ride into heaven on your mama’s coattails. You can’t stand on your granddaddy’s faith. You can’t just come to church, sing the songs, say the prayers, and expect the power of God to flow through you if you don’t know Him for yourself.

Authentic Faith Is Rooted in Relationship, Not Ritual or Reputation

The evil spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” Church, does heaven know your name? More importantly, does Jesus know your name? Is your faith real, or is it just a Sunday morning show?

Authentic faith isn’t about rituals or reputation. It’s not about how many Bible verses you can quote or how many committees you serve on. It’s not about the size of your Bible or the eloquence of your prayers. It’s about a living, breathing relationship with the risen Savior.

When you know Jesus-when you’ve surrendered your life to Him, when you walk with Him day by day-His power becomes your power. His victory becomes your victory. And when the enemy comes against you, you can stand firm, not because of who you are, but because of whose you are.

Application: Make It Personal

So, let me ask you today: Is your faith real? Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Him? Are you living off someone else’s relationship, or have you made Him your Lord and Savior?

Maybe you’ve been going through the motions. Maybe you’ve been content with a borrowed faith. But today, the Lord is calling you to something deeper. He’s inviting you into a real relationship-a faith that stands the test of trials, a faith that overcomes the enemy, a faith that brings life and peace and hope.

Conclusion

As we close, let’s remember the lesson of the sons of Sceva. Don’t settle for a counterfeit faith. Don’t be content with ritual or reputation. Surrender your life to Jesus. Walk with Him. Know Him. And let His power be made perfect in you.

Let’s bow our heads and pray:

Heavenly Father, search our hearts today. If there’s any area where our faith has become routine or borrowed, reveal it to us. Draw us into a real, living relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we might walk in victory and shine Your light in this world. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

God bless you, church. Let’s walk in authentic faith this week!