Who are You

Act 19: 13-17

Summary: In Acts 19:13-17, we see the account of traveling Jewish exorcists who attempt to invoke the name of Jesus without having a true relationship with Him. Their failed attempt exposes the reality of spiritual authority and the importance of knowing God genuinely.

Beloved when we use the phrase Who are you it usually when someone who is talking to you and knows you by name only for you to ask them who are you?

But then to us who are parents we send our children out to the world and when they return, you do not recognize them, even though they look like your child, they even sound like your child but they action are not lining up with how we raised them. Which cause you to ask the question Who are You? They seem to be suffering from Identity Crisis this is a period of uncertainty where you question your sense of self, values, purpose and role in the world.

A person going through an Identity crisis may be preoccupied with certain question:

What am I passionate about?

What are my spiritual beliefs?

What are my core values?

What is my purpose in life?

Who am I?

Beloved I remember growing up an we played games full of imagination, we were to changed our identity, games like house, doctor, church and school.

Somebody had to play the husband and the wife .

Somebody had to play the Doctor and patient.

Somebody had to play the Preacher and the choir.

Somebody had to play the teacher and the student. Which many of us are still playing the role of these childhood games.

Can I Be honest this same spirit has crept in the church. my sisters are now dressing like their daughters, trying to date in the same age bracket and still stuck in the game of house, all the while he playing the catch a girl kiss a girl and once he got her he switches game to hide and seek because he can’t be found, they all are dealing with Identity crisis.

This text allows to lean in on Paul missionary journey that brings him back into the city of Ephesus, Which is also know as the light of Asia. It is historical Las Vegas, it is known for it’s magicians, those who studied sorcery and wondering priest. It is also the home of the goddess Artemis also known as Diana by the Romans. This is a place that what happens in Ephesus stays in Ephesus. Paul while there runs into some church members and he asked them a question “ Have you received the holy spirit since you believe?” They responded “ we haven’t heard that such a thing exist” Like these brothers who only became a member but never really allowed him to become Lord. never truly experience the true power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul knew they would need some help in this believers journey which brings me to my first point

DON’T TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN

Beloved there are certain thing we shouldn’t try on our own, you know like cutting your hair the first time, or using power tools, there can be some consequences and repercussion. To many of us have tried this life without the aid of the Holy Spirit, We only focus on Jesus and yes we heard of the Holy Spirit but talk about him like someone catching a cold. We have put him a box and down graded his power to an emotionalism,

he’s more than just speaking in tongues

it’s not about how you feel

It’s not the goose bumps

He is third person of the triune God manifested as the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost! He is the POWER of God!

We have these 7 sons of Sceva who are sons of self proclaim Jewish high priest, they are watching Paul being used by God they bible said his anointing was so heavy that people used handkerchiefs and aprons to touch him and take it home and the sick recovered, demons were cast out of people and he made it look easy. (expound) And just like the Seven Son we look at people and say I can do that, never counting up the cost, not understanding the anointing at that person life. It can’t be duplicated or imitated either you got or you don’t. Tell the rest of the story

When people ask you who you are tell them

I’m a blood wash

Holy Ghost filled

Baptized beilever

I’ve been bought with a price

I AM REDEEMED

If you have been redeemed stand on your feet and tell the LORD thank you!