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2. Spiritual Revival in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)
ACTS 19:13-20
13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. 15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
The establishing of the kingdom of God is a war and strife between heaven and hell, between the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan. People open themselves either to the evil spirits or to the power of our heavenly Father. We find people possessed by hell, and others filled with the love of God.
Some of the believers of the Old Testament received power to drive out evil spirits in the name of the living Lord, as we know from this gospel report. Devils tremble for fear of the holy God. The Jews, however, could not pour a new spirit into him who had been freed from the evil spirit. Thus those who were freed from demon possession became, in some instances, more evil than before.
Seven brothers, the sons of a man named Sceva, who claimed to be a high priest, traveled around Ephesus and drove out evil spirits. Those brothers heard about Paul, or maybe saw how he healed the sick and overcame unclean powers in the name of Jesus. Therefore, they tried to use the name of Jesus, in order to profit from His power. They used the name as a spell, but did not know the Savior personally. Neither did they resort to His power or believe in Him. This was their own guilt, for they chose to us the name of Jesus as an incantation, tempting God.
The evil spirit moved immediately in the demon-possessed, and cried out painfully: “I know who Jesus is, and Paul’s name is not strange to me. Hell confesses with gnashing teeth that it knows Him who has conquered death. It can never overcome Him, for the Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the world and reconciled God to men. The devils know the cross and the living Christ, who rose from the dead. They are also aware of the coming of the hour of judgment. Paul was one of the ambassadors of Christ. His words were known and recorded in the inferior circles. His thoughts were not weak or useless, but full of power for setting up the kingdom of God on earth.
Brother, did you recognize that hell knows Jesus and trembles before him? Many people are blind. They stop their ears and harden their hearts against the Gospel, and then they become prey in the hand of the devil. The attack of the demon-possessed man against seven men who tempted God was an indication of the attack of Satan against those who are not secure in the expanses of Christ. The spirits had no authority or power over Paul and the members of the spiritual body of Christ. He who keeps away from the Savior stands without knowledge in the circle of the devil, for the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. Christ, however, interferes in the kingdom of the devil. He releases the prisoners and leads them out triumphantly. He who follows Christ experiences that the victory that has overcome the world is our faith.
If someone asked you: “Who are you?” answer him: “I am Jesus Christ’s own possession. I am have been justified by His blood and am established in Him.” We hope that you, too, by faith will experience that men are freed through His person from the power of the devil.
The Ephesians, upon hearing that Jesus was known in hell, and that Paul was the ambassador of the living Lord, became filled with fear. They thought about their own condition, and became certain of the coming judgment of God. Many truly repented and worshiped Jesus, asking His pardon and salvation. They did not magnify Paul, but the glorified Jesus Christ, who freed many in Ephesus from the bondage of sin, and delivered them from the nightmare of magic. Those who were delivered from the occult came and publicly confessed their sins, their cunning, and their unjust works, before the apostle and the elders. They chose to give up all their malice and evil intent, so that firmly established brothers in faith might participate in prayer to the Lord for them. The blood of Christ was able to deliver them to the uttermost, and the Holy Spirit could sanctify them forever.
Dear brother, Christ is still the Savior, and is able to save you today from the power of evil spirits. Have you ever consulted a fortune teller? Do you rely on certain magic? Did you go to a sheikh, so that he might cast spells over you, or heal you? Did you ever believe in blue beads or in any form of evil in your surroundings? We ask you, in the name of Christ, to confess these sins publicly before God, and, if possible, to pray with firmly established servants of the Lord, that the name of Jesus might deliver you from all the bonds of the devil. Keep in mind that if you willingly give the devil your little finger, he will take from you the hand, the arm, and the whole body. But he who repents wholeheartedly and resorts to Jesus, the Son of God, delivers himself completely. So do not neglect the hour of your salvation. Today, God’s triumph can be realized in you if you believe in Jesus.
Hell crackled when the Church of Christ was planted in Ephesus, when individuals fled from eternal death to everlasting life. The common faith of the redeemed and the communion of their prayers brought down a great power from Christ. The preached word of the Savior overcomes the darkness of the idolaters, not through magic or human minds, nor through law or godliness, but through the words of His servants. Christ gives you no other power to overcome the world than the Holy Gospel. So fill your heart with the word of your Lord, and continue in the communion of prayer. Christ desires to free, through your common service, many who are demon-possessed, and confirm them in His kingdom. This is the victory that has overcome the world - even our faith.
PRAYER: We worship You our Lord Jesus, who has gained the victory over death, Satan, and sin. You are the eternal Holy One, who did not fall in temptation. Forgive us our sins, and release us from all devilish involvement. Deliver us together with all those who seek You, and establish us in the communion of the saints. We trust in You, and magnify You. You are our Savior, our Helper, and our All. Amen.
QUESTION:
- How were the name and word of Jesus greatly magnified in Ephesus?