READING: Acts 18-20
Today, we come to the spiritual warfare passage that most challenges me in all the Bible. The apostle Paul was in Ephesus, where God was doing incredible miracles through him. Seven professional exorcists came through that city, and they did what exorcist magicians of that day did: they tried to tap into somebody else’s power by saying the same words and following the same pattern of another exorcist. They believed that exorcism was about saying the right words, formulas, and incantations — and in this case, they tried using Paul’s approach. “In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out,” they said to a demon-possessed man (Acts 19:13).
The demon, though, spoke back: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15). It’s this latter phrase that most burdens me. The demon knew Jesus because Jesus was the Son of God. He knew Paul because Paul walked with God. But, the professional pagan exorcists had no real authority over the enemy, and they posed no threat to the demon. Thus, the words, “But who are you?” were more than just a question; they were evidence of the enemy’s lack of concern over these “religious” leaders. Indeed, the phrase, “You don’t scare me” might best interpret the demon’s words to the exorcists.
My concern is that the enemy might say to our churches today, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but you don’t scare me.” When churches go through the motions of Christianity but reach few people for Christ, I doubt the enemy’s concerned. Nor is he bothered much when we don’t disciple the people we reach — when we fail to help them know how to wear the full armor of God (Eh 6:11). We do church, but not in a way that makes hell shake.
I long for churches to so walk with God that that the enemy knows them by name. More specifically, I long to be such a man.
ACTION STEPS:
- Ask and answer this question about your life: “Does my walk with God make hell shake?”
- If your answer is “I’m not sure” or “no,” determine what changes you need to make — and then, in the power of the Holy Spirit, make them.
PRAYER: “God, make me a believer who makes hell shake.”
TOMORROW'S READING: Acts 21-23
