The Demons of Sceva

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14.13 Lord Jesus, we thank you for your promise in John 14.13, that whatever we ask in your name, you will do, so that the Father may be glorified. We stand in awe of this gift, knowing that you are our mediator and advocate. Lord, ignite our hearts with faith to believe in the power of your name. Help us to align our desires with your will, seeking your glory above all else. Strengthen us to pray boldly, trusting that you hear and answer us. May our prayers reflect your heart, bringing transformation, healing, and hope. to a world in need. Use us, Lord, to reveal your love and power, that your name may be glorified in every word we speak and every prayer we lift up. In your mighty name. Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. This is the Jesus Podcast. Gospel-inspired stories told to awaken your imagination and and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing Jesus' encounters with and power over demons. Has this podcast given you hope? We'd love it if you rated, reviewed, and shared it with a friend. Thanks for making the mission possible. Paul walked through the sloping hills leading to Ephesus. He prayed for the brethren in the city. as he took in the scenery around him. The day was warm, and the sun beat lightly on his face. The wind stirred the long sheaths of grain in the fields beside him. He plucked a few and rubbed them as he walked, watching the chaff blow downwind. He praised God that he was no longer found among the chaff to be burned. Despite Paul's blindness to the truth, Jesus had intercepted him on his way to destruction and offered him a new life. In response, Paul diligently followed the Spirit's lead to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. God had already led him and his companions on two missionary journeys. He was now starting his third to Ephesus, a city hewn through Roman pride. dedicated to commerce and riddled with idol worship. The good news of Jesus was bringing many in the city to salvation, and Paul found it fitting to encourage the believers in the great metropolis. Just outside the city, Paul stopped and prepared his heart for the days ahead, while anonymity was still in his favor. He wiped the sweat from his brow and lifted up his eyes to the radiant blue skies. He muttered a prayer. When he prayed, Paul felt as though he was standing in the throne room of God. He basked in the closeness he and all believers could experience with Jesus through his spirit. Unbeknownst to Paul, there was someone watching him from a distance. A man was hunkered down behind the wall of a house. His grizzled hair was enshrouded in a hood. He peered around the corner just enough to see Paul, who was deeply consumed in his prayers. Upon seeing the apostle, the man spat on the ground and hissed. He turned on his heel and whisked away through a darkened alley like a wraith. 00:04:16 Speaker 2: Let's ask ourselves a haunting question. Do the forces of darkness even know who you are? Do they consider you a threat and a warrior for Christ's cause? Or have you been so ineffectual that they've paid little attention to you? Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We've spent the last couple of weeks exploring stories about demons. The month of October is often spent celebrating darkness, but we as believers know better. Scripture reveals the intensity of demons, but more importantly, it showcases the power of Christ. Today, We're diving into a riveting and somewhat comical episode from the book of Acts, specifically Acts chapter 19, verses 11 through 22. It's a story that involves miracles, impostors, a good old-fashioned beatdown, and a valuable lesson about the power of authentic faith. 00:05:12 Speaker 1: Once inside the city, Paul made his way to the home of one of the believers. There, a group of about 12 other disciples gathered to greet him. They received him with joy and invited him inside. Paul was glad to accept the invitation. He loved the chance to travel and see how God was building his church in new and exciting places. However, as his age slowly crept up in years, Paul found his body struggling to keep up. 00:05:45 Speaker 2: I must thank you for your hospitality. It is a pleasure to be with you all. 00:05:50 Speaker 3: Oh no, the pleasure is all ours. We have eagerly awaited your arrival. 00:05:56 Speaker 1: The Ephesian man let out a hearty laugh. He was like a child, overjoyed to see their parents come home after being away. There wasn't a single believer who didn't know of Paul's faithfulness and selfless labor to build the kingdom of God. Paul felt like the man's energy was being shared with him, invigorating him once more for the work ahead. 00:06:20 Speaker 2: You're too kind, but I would be happy to help out in any way I can. Let's begin with this, then. When the people in Ephesus came to believe in Jesus as the Christ, did you receive the Holy Spirit? 00:06:34 Speaker 1: The Ephesian man looked at Paul, confused. He scratched his head like Paul was speaking a different language. 00:06:43 Speaker 3: No, to be honest, we haven't even heard of a Holy Spirit. 00:06:48 Speaker 2: What? Surely you were baptized when you believed? 00:06:51 Speaker 3: Yes, of course. 00:06:53 Speaker 2: And what baptism did you receive at the time? 00:06:56 Speaker 1: The Ephesian man paused before answering, wondering if he was setting himself up for embarrassment. 00:07:03 Speaker 3: The only baptism we know of, John's baptism. 00:07:07 Speaker 2: Well, that just won't do. You see, John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, a turning away from sin to behold the one who came after him, Jesus. Since the Christ has come, you must be baptized by his Holy Spirit. 00:07:23 Speaker 1: The men in the house begged Paul to baptize them with the Spirit. The apostle was delighted to fulfill their request. He rose from his chair and asked the men to gather around him. Standing in a circle, Paul placed his hands on them and prayed to God. The men listened closely to Paul's words. and felt an indescribable sensation of peace and awe wash over them. The Spirit was filling their hearts, taking the embers of their faith and fanning them into an unstoppable flame. The men began to speak in tongues and prophesied. They stared at one another in amazement, then turned towards the Apostle. 00:08:13 Speaker 3: How can we ever thank you? 00:08:15 Speaker 2: Your gratitude belongs to the Lord. My encouragement to you is to always remember the Spirit's job. He is here to lead you into all truth and to make much of the name of Jesus. The road ahead is narrow, but leads to life more abundant. As you live as witnesses of Jesus, you will face trials, but take heart. The Spirit will guard your hearts against the evils of this world. Through Him You shall do incredible works in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:08:49 Speaker 1: The twelve men were silent. They could hardly envision what life with the Holy Spirit could bring. But they would come to learn. For the next two years, Paul taught the people of Ephesus, defending the gospel with persuasive arguments. During this time, all of the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia had heard the word of the Lord. One of the chief priests of Ephesus was a man named Sceva. He had toiled for many years, abiding by both God's holy law and Jewish traditions. He was an honest man and diligently strove to honor God. Over the years, the Lord had blessed the man with seven sons, who Sceva hoped would follow in his footsteps in service to the Lord. However, as word of Paul's magnificent work spread throughout Ephesus, The seven sons wanted to join him on his road to notoriety. They were not followers of Jesus or had ties to the people of the way. They only had a dim understanding of what they heard Paul say. 00:10:00 Speaker 2: Could do. 00:10:01 Speaker 1: One day, the brothers decided to put their plans into action. They had surmised that the extent of the apostles' power came from the name of Jesus he invoked when healing and casting out evil spirits. They assumed that if they called upon the same name They would be in control of the same power. 00:10:24 Speaker 3: You know, brothers, I've been thinking. If we want to be known as great men, we have to do something truly noteworthy. Something to give the people what they're looking for. 00:10:35 Speaker 2: And what exactly did you have in mind? 00:10:38 Speaker 3: I've heard stories of a crazed man who lives at the edge of the city. Supposedly, he's had an evil spirit for years. If we can rid the man of the spirit... Surely the people would not be able to deny our power. 00:10:54 Speaker 1: The other brothers seemed pleased with the idea, though the thought of facing a man possessed by an evil spirit was daunting. The allure of fame was much more intense. The seven young men bounded out the door. As they neared the city borders of Ephesus, they asked around to see if anyone had any insights on where they could find the possessed man. After hours of inquiring, They nearly gave up before an old woman beckoned them from a small window. She had lived in this part of the city for decades and assured the men she knew who they were looking for. Her long, spindly finger pointed down the street towards a decrepit building. The men shivered but reminded themselves of what lay on the other side of their success. They slowly made their way to the unkempt homes. The older brother stepped up to the front door. He knocked lightly. No answer. He knocked louder. Within, the brothers could hear someone scuffling around. 00:12:03 Speaker 3: If he won't let us in, we'll just have to do it ourselves. 00:12:07 Speaker 1: The brother rammed his shoulder into the door. It burst open with a bang. As the dust settled, the brothers trickled into the dark house. Only a few paces in, they saw a shadow. move in the corner of the room. But before they could focus their eyes, a hooded man jumped out from the corner. His eyes were ashen, and the skin on his face was calloused from years of abuse. He shouted at the sons. 00:12:38 Speaker 2: What are you doing here? We have no business with you. 00:12:42 Speaker 1: In an instant, their confidence was gone. Terrified, the oldest brother wrapped his arms around the other's and began to speak. His voice trembled. 00:12:54 Speaker 3: We're here to stop you. And how do you plan to do that? 00:13:00 Speaker 1: The demon's laughter revealed his sharp, decaying teeth. The young man fought to compose his thoughts. His mind danced between the names Jesus and Paul. To him, Jesus was of no significance. Yet, if the great Paul used his name to perform miracles... He figured he needed to as well. Or better yet, he thought to himself, perhaps he could use both. 00:13:26 Speaker 3: In the name of Jesus, who Paul preaches, I command you, come out! 00:13:32 Speaker 1: He tried to sound bold, but he knew the words fell short. The demon didn't move, wondering if there was more to the young man's plan. His lips curled into a devilish smile. He cackled at the man. who now felt like nothing more than a little boy out of his league. 00:13:56 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, Jesus. Him I know. We all know Jesus, the Son of the living God. And this Paul we speak of, we know about him as well. I've tried to avoid. 00:14:18 Speaker 3: Him since I saw him enter my city. 00:14:21 Speaker 2: I know their names. 00:14:24 Speaker 1: But who are you? The sons of Sceva remained frozen in fear. Before they could respond, the demon sprang forward. Even outnumbered, the supernatural strength of the demon was no match for the brothers. In mere minutes, the evil spirit had thrashed through their clothes, and marred their body with wounds. Eventually, the brothers were able to escape, and soon the entirety of Ephesus had heard the news of the brothers' near-death experience. All throughout the province of Asia, testimonies of Jesus' power were being spread, and the tale of the seven sons of Sceva only bolstered their confidence in Paul's teaching. As none could deny He was empowered by the Spirit of Jesus. Paul would continue to minister to the people of Ephesus for some time before returning to Jerusalem, always following the Spirit as he went. 00:15:32 Speaker 2: The Apostle Paul is in Ephesus, a city buzzing with spiritual activity and a fondness for magic and the occult. God is doing extraordinary miracles through Paul, Even handkerchiefs and aprons that touched him were healing the sick and casting out demons. Talk about a powerful laundry day. Now, among the onlookers are seven sons of Siva, a Jewish high priest. Now, these guys are like spiritual opportunists. They see Paul's success and think, hey, we can do that too. So, they start going around attempting to exercise demons by declaring, in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. Notice anything off here. They say, the Jesus whom Paul preaches, not our Lord Jesus. They're name-dropping Jesus, like he's a celebrity they saw on TV, not someone they have a relationship with. One day, they encounter a demon-possessed man. They recite their usual line, and the demon responds, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you? Uh-oh, imagine the scene. The demon basically says, I recognize Jesus, and I've heard of Paul, but you're nobody. Then the possessed man leaps on them, overpowers all seven, and sends them running out of the house, naked and wounded. That's right. They got beaten so badly, they lost their clothes and their dignity. The sons of Siva tried to wield the name of Jesus like a magic spell, without knowing him personally. Faith isn't a formula. It's a relationship. You can't live off someone else's faith. Borrowed beliefs will leave you spiritually bankrupt. The demon knew Jesus and was aware of Paul because of their authentic spiritual authority. When you're genuinely connected to Christ, even the forces of darkness take notice. But counterfeit faith doesn't fool anyone. Not God, not Satan, and not the world. These men were the sons of a high priest, yet they lacked true faith. Their story warns us about the dangers of religious hypocrisy. Wearing a title or following rituals doesn't substitute for a real relationship with God. We can't control or manipulate God's power for our own agendas. The miracles performed through Paul were because God chose to work through him, a humble servant. Attempts to harness divine power for personal gain or spectacle are doomed to fail. Now this event became the talk of the town. Fear fell upon the people, and the name of Jesus was held in high honor. Many believers confessed their sins openly. Those who practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. The value of these scrolls was 50,000 pieces of silver, a small fortune. This mass repentance showed that the people realized you can't mix Jesus with other spiritual practices. It's not Jesus plus magic or Jesus plus anything. It's Jesus alone. Do you know Jesus personally? Or are you relying on someone else's faith? Maybe it's your parents, your spouses, or even your pastor's faith that you've been coasting on. It's time to establish your own relationship with him. The world can spot a fake a mile away. More importantly, so can the spiritual realm. Live authentically and let your faith be genuine. We live in a culture that often treats sacred things casually. Let's approach God with the reverence He deserves, not as a means to our own ends. Just as the Ephesians burned their scrolls, perhaps there are things in our lives we need to eliminate, habits, objects, or relationships that can hinder our walk with God. The tale of the sons of Siva is a humorous yet sobering reminder that there are no shortcuts in the spiritual journey. Authority in Jesus' name comes from relationship, not repetition. Let's not be like those seven hapless brothers who got the beating of a lifetime because they tried to imitate a power they didn't possess. Instead, let's commit to knowing Jesus deeply and authentically. In doing so, we'll not only avoid the pitfalls of counterfeit faith, but also experience the true power and transformation that comes from walking closely with Him.