Acts Chapter 19 recounts a weird story that occurred in Ephesus. There was a Jewish high priest named Sceva who had seven sons. These brothers formed an itinerant exorcism team and attempted to make a living casting evil spirits out of people. Apparently they stumbled across information that a guy named Paul was easily and consistently casting out evil spirits in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. The seven sons of Sceva decided to improve their brand by applying Paul's method, and they had some successful exorcisms by usurping the name of Jesus of Nazareth whom Paul declares. The Lord himself had predicted this possibility saying --- Many will say to me in that day, Lord have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them -- I never knew you.... (Matthew 7:23-24a NKJV)
Well, it didn't turn out too well for Sceva's boys. They attempted to cast out a demon in Jesus name and got a surprising response when the evil spirit asked -- Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? (Acts 19:15 NKJV) Then he beat them up! This might seem funny, but I'm sure it wasn't to them! One evil spirit possessed man, beat all seven of them senseless, beat them out of their clothes, beat them until they ran screaming like little girls, leaving a path of blood as they fled that house.
It often happens that people obtain or lay claim to a Christian title but lack the authority and power that should accompany it -- power that only God can provide and will provide to those He knows. They create a calling that they think they'll enjoy or be successful at, and claim that God has called them, much like like the seven sons of Sceva claimed the power of the Name of Jesus, but never knew Him.
I recently read that the average American pastor spends ten minutes a day in both personal prayer and bible study with the Lord, and the average Christian spends three minutes a day. If these numbers are even close to accurate, it seems like Sceva's boys have multiplied, and taken over our churches, claiming the Name, the Authority, and the Power of someone they don't even know. They also claim a right to the benefits that accrue to Followers of Christ, without a clue of how to follow or even find Him. It would be like declaring yourself married to a spouse you never saw, couldn't describe, didn't really know where they lived or how they felt about you. That kind of marriage would result in a relationship that had very few benefits!
Paul wrote that we should all - Desire the greatest gifts.... of God. That's a good thing. But we'll never acquire them unless we intimately know the Giver. That doesn't require much, but it's apparently more than many will give. It requires time spent daily in intimate prayer, and time spent in His Word. There is no substitute for either. Its really that simple.
If you encountered a powerful minion of the Devil from Hell, how would he react to you? Would he see you like Paul, walking in the authority of one of Christ's own, or would he laugh and beat the hell out you?
We aren't told what ultimately happened to Sceva's sons. It is possible that this experience turned their hearts to Jesus. I hope so. Their time has come and gone, but the end of our story is not yet written.
Will your next chapters be written describing your intimacy with God? Will Jesus one day welcome you as an old friend, or will He wonder who you are?
Copyright 2013 Mission of the Master Ministries, Inc. May be reprinted in whole or in part if a link is provided to http://wordworkswednesday.blogspot.com
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