Given October 5, 2008

I was reminded today of the incident in Ephesus where Paul had been staying for a couple of years doing the work of God.  Some guys, seven brothers, tried to cast out an evil spirit from a man using the name of Jesus like they’d heard Paul do but it didn’t work.  The evil spirit said to the boys, “Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?” Acts 19:15. The evil spirit then proceeded to direct the man in which they resided to jump on the seven brothers and beat them up.  It was so bad that the brothers ran out of the house naked and bloody!  Why didn’t the name of Jesus work for them?

I say the answer is that the brothers were not members of Jesus’ team, you might say.  They were trying to use a magic word, “Jesus”, without going through the process of becoming one of His disciples.  It makes all the difference.

Here’s how I see it: In devil headquarters, before the demons go out on their missions, they are briefed on what to expect.  I can just hear Satan himself saying, “Now, when you’re out there guys, watch out for this man named Jesus and any of His true followers.  They are trouble for us.  Jesus gave them power over us, (Luke 10:19) and you need to avoid them at all costs.  On the board here, are the names of the followers of Jesus.  Stay away from them!”

I want my name to be on that board.  I want demons to say, “Jesus I know, Paul I know, Bill I know…”  I want to be known in the realms of darkness as someone to watch out for.  We have been given the power to, “trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, Luke 10:19“, and nothing can hurt us.  We must declare that power and exercise it every day.  Demons should be worried each morning when we get up and say, “Oh no!  He’s awake again, we’re in trouble!”