Demons
Notes
Transcript
Extraordinary
Extraordinary
What would you say is extraordinary?
Last week, I saw a beautiful sunset. It looked “extraordinary”. Was it? Not really. It’s not the first time I have seen a fiery sunset. It was beautiful and majestic but not really extraordinary.
We watch the skillful play of a professional athlete and we say, “that was extraordinary.” Is it really? It may be beyond the normal capability of a man but it is the result of talent, practice, and discipline. Too me, Steve Largent was an “extraordinary” wide receiver for the Seahawks. Well, two of his records were broke this past season by two different wide receivers. He was a great player but to describe it as extraordinary would cheapen that word.
In order to be truly extraordinary I have to be able to say . . . that isn’t how it works. That stands so far apart from what is normal that I am left speechless. Today’s passage is all about the extraordinary. Those moments where the fabric of what we hold to be normal is torn away to display the marvelous work of God!
PRAY
READ
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.
Where does the power come from?
Where does the power come from?
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.
Notice who does the healing. The work was done by the power of God. So extraordinary were these works that to describe them as a miracle wasn’t enough. It’s not even normal in the realm of miraculous works that items should heal and cast out demons.
Rendered Powerless
Rendered Powerless
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.
They were using the name of Jesus like a spell or incantation. They, like “magic” practitioners through the ages, believed that the power lay within them. Paul did not wield the power of God but God worked through Paul. The difference is in the submission. Paul was not looking to be powerful but to be true to his calling as a minister of the Gospel. These men thought they could take up the name of Jesus and wield it as a weapon. Is that how Jesus works? NO!
If demons can influence thoughts
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
I don’t stand around and denounce Satan and his demons. I obey scripture.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
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 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,
Jesus himself is our illustration:
When tempted in the desert he did not say simply, because I am Jesus do as I say. Instead, he, as one of us, pointed the way. He quoted the word of God to put down the lies of his enemy. Did Satan let up . . . did he not pursue Christ to the cross. Unwittingly watching as the plan of God for the salvation of man and the destruction of evil unfolded in front of him.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
All this is to point out that the idea of magic and power that is offered in many ways in this world is all a lie to deceive the hearts and minds of man.
When man in his powerlessness decides to go to war with evil spirits one of two outcomes will occur. Either the demonic will allow it in order to trap them in the lie that they did it by their own power or they will defeat the fool who thinks he is powerful.
The Lie Revealed
The Lie Revealed
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.
Enemy exposed
Enemy exposed
Satan is a deceiver and the liar. He prefers to work in the shadows. When his work is made plain mankind rejects it. The demons actions showed the world the contrast between the power of God being worked through Paul and the powerlessness of men trying to wield magical incantations.
Jesus Glorified
Jesus Glorified
The name of Jesus praised
The worth of the Gospel outweighs all the power and knowledge this world has to offer.
The Word of God increased and Prevailed
The Word of God increased and Prevailed
Be transformed!
Be transformed!
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Live boldly proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. Set aside the things that trap your mind in fear, worry, doubt, and hopelessness. Dwell on and spend time in the Word of God and allow it’s truth to transform your life.