Does the Devil know your name?

King James Version Chapter 19

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

God did special miracles through the hands of Paul in Ephesus. The miracles were so astonishing that people brought hankies, aprons to place on Paul and take back to their loved ones who were sick and they were healed and demons fled from those who they possessed. There was this one time where seven sons of the the chief priest took it upon themselves to become exorcists and cast out a demon from a man. The used Jesus AND Paul’s name to cast out the demon however the demon answered back and said “I know Jesus and I know Paul, but who are you?” Now these are the sons of the chief priest, a Jewish priest. You would think they would have been taught better. Well, after the demon lets them know he doesn’t know who they are, the demon possessed man jumped the seven sons and put a good beating on them. They left wearing no clothes, only wounds. The Jews and Greeks in Ephesus heard what happened and repented of their sins and Jesus was magnified. Many involved in witchcraft brought their occult items, books etc and burned them. The value of the items was pretty substantial. The demon knew Jesus and knew Paul, but didn’t know the sons of the Chief Priest.

Does the Devil know your name?

King James Version Chapter 19

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

How many of you have tried to cast out demons this past week? Probably none of us have tried that. How many of you have had an encounter with an evil one this week? How have you responded?

Open your bibles to , Today I want to look at what commands God has given us so we are able to stand against the evil that is around us.

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and tells them

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus

-Who they are in Christ,

-What they used to be,

-What God has done for them and because of what God has done, that is why Paul is preaching to the Gentiles.

-They should serve because God gives everyone a spiritual gift. Put off, be renewed, put on.

-Gives directions for the family and employees. then he gives instructions to STAND.

The Ephesians themselves had known the bondage and fear of astrology, magic and spiritism. When they turned to Christ they burned their books of spells (Acts 19:19)

Please stand with me as we read the holy, inspired, correct Word of God.

Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 622). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

King James Version Chapter 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador xin bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Finally - after all he had written

my brethern - brothers/sisters in Christ

Be Strong - more capable (training, studying, living out)

in the Lord - master (not LORD Jehovah)

in the power - ability to govern, direct, determine

of his might - do something to get something done

Put on - provide with clothes

Whole armor - any weapon that makes up a part of the whole

of God - God

Paul is telling the church at Ephesus after all he had written in the letter that they needed to be strong

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

Not just what we should do, but, why we should do it.

That ye - brother/sister in Christ

may be able - sufficient to meet a need or task

to stand - to face and withstand with courage

against the wiles - logical deception

of the devil -

The whole armour of God will allow a believer to have sufficient capability to face with courage the logical deception of the devil.

The devil tries to make things logical. Eve in the garden saw the fruit looked good and the devil used some logical deception to deceive her

Put on the armor so you are able to stand.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

For we wrestle - the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat.

not against

flesh and blood - vulneral physical

but against

blood

principalities - any superrnatural being (besides God) acting in a ruling or commanding capacity either good or evil.

powers - a person who exercises control over others.

rulers of darkness - authority over evil

of this world - here and now

spiritual wickedness in high places- not physical, perverting of virtue and moral principles from their purposes to evil end. done in places meant for God.

We are in close combat that isn’t engaging in physical combat, but against supernatural beings that are not God, who act like they know what’s right, against those who exercise control over others, those authorities over evil of this world, the here and now, spiritual wickedness, not physical perverting virtue and moral principles to evil.

This is hand to hand up close and personal, we aren’t being attacked by someone in another city, state or country, this is face to face and we need to remind ourselves to stand and wear the whole armour of God.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

Not what we should do and why we should do it, but how we should do it.

take unto - to take and lift upward (own it, embrace it)

whole armor - any weapon or piece of armor that makes up a part of the whole equipment of a soldier.

of God

ye may be able - to be or become sufficient to meet a need or task

to withstand - express opposition to

in the evil day - morally bad

having done all - put something into effect entirely or thoroughly

to stand - to face and withstand with courage

Take the armour, own it, embrace it, all of it, not just parts, so that you have the sufficiency to express opposition to the morally bad, putting it into effect entirely to be able to face and withstand with courage.

Not just putting it on, but having the sufficiency to express the morally bad opposition. We can have the head knowledge, but until we put it into practice, we aren’t going to do well or reap the benefits.

I’m chubby, I know that I need to exercise to help loose some extra pounds and help out my blood pressure, but I don’t meet the task with the knowledge. Until we use what we know against the devil, he is going to mess with us, we will not be able to stand. We will give in to those thoughts that we aren’t good enough, they are better than I am, or whatever else the devil tries to throw at us.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

Not what we should do and why we should do it, but how we should do it.

Stand - to face and withstand with courage

having loins girt about - waist fastened with a belt prepping for strenuous labor

truth - message of reality

having on - to dress

breastplate - protects the chest (vital organs)

righteousness - satisfies the moral requirement of God’s character.

feet shod - put on shoes

preparation - state of being ready or prepared for use or action.

of the gospel of peace - good news harmonious relations and freedom from disputes

Stand, you are in a battle, don’t sit, don’t stroll, don’t slouch, STAND!

prepare yourself like you are getting ready to run a race or do work, the belt holds everything together freeing you up to do your work. Knowing that the reality message is already being worn, protecting your vital organs, your heart that is easily swayed, but wear righteousness, not looking for something else, but what the Lord wants for you, satisfying the moral requirement of God’s character. put on Shoes to prepare for battle, dig in, stand your ground. The good news brings relationships in harmony and lack of disputes.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

above all - most important

taking - take up take along

shield - able to hide behind

of faith - trust in Jesus

ye shall be able - to become sufficient

quench - to put out

firery - combustion (destroy)

darts - weapon forcibly thrown not projected (close range)

of the wicked - evil

most important, even above the other things just written, take up the shield you are capable of hiding behind, trust in Jesus to become sufficient, to put out the fire from the darts of evil.

Darts are a little different weapon, because they have to be used at close range to be effective. This battle is real, it is up close and personal, you can’t take it for granted, you need to prepare yourself and protect yourself.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

And take the helmet - take physically the headgear made to resist blows

of salvation - means of being preserved from danger

and the sword - short sword length from a dagger to a short sword (close range combat)

of the Spirit - Holy Spirit

is - to be someone or something

the word of God - the content of communication produced by God

take the headgear that is make to resist blows to be preserved from danger. Also take the dagger or short sword of the Holy Spirit to be someone that knows and is skillful in using the words God has communicated to us.

Jesus was tempted in the desert and replied every time with scripture. He stood his ground, he did’t falter in his response.

How well do you know scripture? says “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Satan and his demons are slick, he is referred to as the angel of light. He is looking for ways to make believers ineffective. If we aren’t standing our ground and through scripture handling situations, we are falling short of what God had intended for us to do.

But don’t worry about it if the Devil doesn’t know your name.

Praying always - petitioning God

with all prayer - petitioning

supplication - earnest or urgent request

in the Spirit - Holy Spirit

and watching - to beware, conceived of as staying awake

all - complete

perseverance - persistent determination

and supplication - an earnest or urgent request

all - complete

saints - a person dedicated to God

Petitioning God with all petitioning and urgent request in the Holy Spirit and being observant complete in persistent determination and urgent requests complete for those dedicated to God.

The Bible Guide How to Fight on God’s Side

Paul describes the different pieces of Christian armour as though he is equipping a Roman soldier. He may be chained by the wrist to a soldier as he writes or dictates this letter.

The belt of truth holds the Christian together, giving an integrity of belief and behaviour.

The breastplate of righteousness is the protection of Christ’s holiness and victory over sin. Dressed in Christ, we can face the enemy.

The Roman soldier has shoes which can grip or graft. They are good for marching or for standing firm. So the Christian must put on the shoes of the gospel—ready to go anywhere with the good news, and able to hold the ground when under attack.

The shield of faith is not the small shield of the gladiator, but the full-length shield issued by the Roman army. These shields protect the soldier’s whole body, and link with each other to drive wedges for advance, or form walls for defence. They are covered with hide, to beat out fires or extinguish flaming arrows tipped with blazing tar. In these arrows Paul sees the darts of doubt and temptation which rain down on the Christian, and can only be fended off by faith in God’s truth and greater power.

The helmet is an extremely strong protection for the head and neck. For the Roman soldier it is made of iron or bronze. For the Christian soldier it is forged from salvation—the assurance that Christ has rescued us from sin and shares with us his victory.

The Christian’s spiritual sword is the Bible—the living and active word of God. It is the only attacking weapon Paul mentions. Properly used, scripture comes right to the point on every issue. God’s sword separates truth from falsehood with power and precision, defending us against the devil, and arming us with the gospel.

In this spiritual war, Paul emphasizes the importance of total prayer. Pray in every way on all occasions, and at all times. Christians are to be fully alert to the state of the battle, in constant communication with their commanding Lord and actively supporting their fellow soldiers.

Final greetings

We are in a hand to hand combat warfare that we must prepare for, stand firm in and combat with scripture. However there is something else to consider, praying for others. Those who we know are going through issues, know that prayer is of utmost importance. When we have the power of the Holy Spirit behind us, there is nothing that can stop us.