Powerful

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Ephesus. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 19
13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.


Powerful. The name of Jesus (as we have seen throughout this story, check out Acts 4:10) is powerful ... a power that the story suggests deserves “great honor” and “a solemn fear”. The Jews respected the powerful nature of God’s name so much that they refused to say it out loud. I’m not suggesting we should return to that practice. I am suggesting we revisit the powerful nature of Jesus’ name in our own lives and restore some of the honor and respect it deserves. This part of the story is also a reminder that we coexist with other spiritual forces that are powerful and dangerous ... forces that should not be taken lightly. Paul would later write a letter back to this same community of Jesus followers and encourage them to “stand firm ... against mighty powers in this dark world” (check out Ephesians 6:10-17). Fortunately, Jesus gave us a heads up and some hope when it came to this powerful struggle (check out John 16:33).