VBS General Session - Day 5

Synopsis

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE ACTS 19:8-20

THE STORY

In the book of Acts we see that , in Ephesus, God was performing “extraordinary miracles through Paul” (Acts 19:11).verse 12 says that these miracles involved casting out demons too. Seeing this Seven sons of a Sceva Jewish chief priest, tried to invoke the name of Jesus to drive out demons. They would say to the demon, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out” (verse 13). One day a demon they were trying to cast out refused, saying, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).  The demon-possessed man “jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding” (verse 16). When this was known to the people living in Ephesus, the name of Jesus was held in high honor. Many believed and came and confessed their deeds and turned to Jesus 

A BRIEF ABOUT EPHESUS:

Ephesus was the most important city of Asia Minor. When it was first founded, people dedicated this city to Goddess Artemis.  Artemis was considered the Mother Goddess of Ephesus. Ephesus had a temple dedicated to Artemis, this temple became the centre of her belief, it helped in the city’s economy by sale of her idols. It was a hotbed of black magic, superstition, and demonic activities.  The city was known for sorcery and occult practices.  

The problem the Sons of Sceva faced:

They did not realise that they could not use the name of Jesus without having faith in him. They did not realise that it was Jesus working through Paul, and not Paul using Jesus to do the miracles.  Jesus gave Paul the authority to work miracles. Luke 8:28 – the demon possessed man falls at Jesus feet shouting “what do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me.” So, authority over demons belongs to Jesus and to those to whom He gives this authority. The demons in Acts 19 recognised that the sons of Sceva did not have any power or authority to cast them out. They did not realise that they could not use the name of Jesus as a mantra to get the results they wanted. These may have been religious, but they had no relationship with Jesus. They did not believe in Jesus. The power and presence of the Holy Spirit was not in them to take victory over these demons. That is why the demons beat them up

THE RESULT OF THEIR DEFEAT BY THE DEMONS: Acts 19:17-20

The result of the demon’s attack on the seven sons of Sceva was that everyone in Ephesus was “seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17). The Ephesians could see the power of God in the work of Paul and the lack of God’s power in the Seven sons of Sceva. Because theirs was counterfeit belief and Paul had the real power of God. In this way the Word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power (Acts 19:20). When the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard of what happened they were seized with fear, and they highly honored the name of Jesus. Many of those who believed came and openly confessed their evil deeds. Those involved in sorcery brought their magic books, charms, spells, amulets, etc. and publicly burned them. This showed that they had turned to Jesus from their former life of sin and darkness.

Lessons learnt:

1. There is no power in just the method: 

They thought that just using the name of Jesus was enough. But the demons know true authority. They know Jesus and his power and authority. Whether you like it or not, the problem is not in the words but in your heart. Like God, the devil knows true spirituality when he sees it.  No matter how many times we recite His name, we will not see answers unless we have the faith that comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Think how often we use the name of Jesus in Church, in our own times of prayer and even when we sing His name. Do we really believe or are we merely chanting His name?

• There is power and authority in the name of Jesus:

1. The name of Jesus is the most powerful name there is. God gave Jesus the "name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Jesus, by His sacrifice, made a way for our salvation. When we talk about the name of Jesus, we are talking about our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, His character, and the things He does

1. We need to have faith in the name of Jesus:

The Bible instructs us to pray in the name of Jesus. John 16: 24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
By faith, the disciples performed miracles, signs, and wonders in the name of Jesus. In  Luke 10:17 we see they cast out demons in Jesus name. In Acts 3 we see a cripple healed in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:30 we see the disciples saying, “stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

1. Believe in the authority in the name of Jesus

Luke 9:1-2 Jesus gives His 12 disciples the power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. In Luke 10:1-22 we see he gives this same authority to 72 others to do the same. Jesus says that those who have faith in him will do what he had been doing, even greater things, because he was going to the father. (John 14:12)

 

3. God’s word teaches us how to get victory over the powers of darkness
4. a) In the midst of so much spiritual opposition in Ephesus, God worked extraordinary miracles through Paul. These miracles demonstrated the power of God to deliver the people who trusted in Him from the kingdom of darkness, free them from disease and from the bondage to sin and evil in their lives. Later on  in the book of Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul says ,  “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). And for victory over these powers of darkness, Paul urges us to put on the whole armor of God. That is to say that we should accept Christ’s salvation, believe we are the righteousness of God, hold on to our faith in God, study and memorise God’s Word and pray. It is the power and presence of our Lord Jesus with us always that will lead us in victory.

b)”You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the World.” 1John 4:4. Put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and live in victory. Let nothing or no one frighten you. 

MEMORY VERSE:

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

God Bless