My primary area of interest in study and writing has been spiritual warfare, with particular attention to warfare and evangelism. One biblical text that captures my burden is Acts 19:11-15—
God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?”
It’s clear from this text that the demon recognized Jesus and Paul, who walked faithfully with Jesus. The evil spirit was not, though, alarmed by the exorcists who attempted to use the name of Jesus in a magical way. Their “religious” activity was just that: activity . . . that was powerless against the enemy. The words, “but who are you” were not as much a question as they were a statement; as Tony Merida says, “The demon essentially says, ‘I know I can’t best Jesus or Paul, but you guys have no power to do anything to me.’”[1]
Of course, we Christ-followers have the power of the Holy Spirit in us, but we too often live powerless lives because of our self-dependence, our ongoing sin, and our divisive spirits. Satan frets little about us because our collective walk with God is anemic.
I can’t help but wonder if the enemy ever says to us, “Jesus, I know. Paul, I know. And . . . you just continue doing what you’re doing because you don’t scare me anyway.” It’s a question worth asking as we prepare to worship together this Thanksgiving weekend.
[1] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 394). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.