TITLE: BUT WHO ARE YOU?
SCRIPTURE: ACTS 19:13-17
There are many passages of scripture that tangentially teach principles of authority, even though the primary purpose of the text may concern something entirely different. In Acts 19, we are told of the miracles that Paul did, powerful miracles that included healings and exorcisms. We are told that even pieces of clothing, aprons or handkerchiefs, that had touched Paul’s body, were brought to the sick and healed them. Such power was effective in proving Paul’s authority was from God and caused many at Ephesus to believe in Jesus. We are told, “SO THE WORD OF THE LORD GREW MIGHTILY AND PREVAILED.”
There are actually two contrasting events recorded by Luke in this particular passage. In the first, God does amazing work through Paul which bolsters believers but unfortunately encourages copycat ministries. The improper reaction of a few doesn’t go well, but God uses the seven sons of Sceva for good and the church grows. This is where we will plant our flag this morning.
We meet the Seven Sons of Sceva in the middle of Acts 19. We aren’t told a ton of details about them. The passage simply says SCEVA IS A JEWISH PRIEST. This makes it likely they resented Christianity and felt it was displacing what had given their family income and stability.
• Whatever their feelings about Christianity (jealousy, fear they needed to compete with this “new thing”), they observed Christians casting out demons in Jesus’ name
This portion of the text is about Spiritual Authority . Spiritual authority is not a mere concept; it is the foundational force that determines whether our efforts in faith are effective or futile. It is the difference between striving in our own strength and seeing true victory through God’s power. The events in Acts 19 illustrate that genuine authority to overcome darkness comes only through a relationship with Christ and the indwelling of his spirit.
Without this divine backing, all attempts to confront spiritual opposition lack substance and results. The seven sons of Sceva learned firsthand that spiritual authority cannot be imitated - manufactured - borrowed -- it must be rooted in God’s presence and purpose.
• This observation reveals the power at work was not derived from personal status or tradition, but from invoking the authority of Jesus
• The sons of Sceva’s attempt to replicate this power without understanding or embracing its source exposes the futility of operating outside of God’s authority
• True spiritual impact is never achieved by imitation or envy — it requires surrender and faith in Christ
The lesson here is profound - attempting to confront sin or spiritual forces apart from God’s authority is not only ineffective it can be dangerous. Real spiritual authority is the privilege of those who belong to Christ, who are covered by his victory and empowered by his spirit. The battle with sin and evil is not won through ritual, knowledge, or religious status, but through the living relationship with Jesus.
• You cannot fight sin on your own merits
• The limitations of human strength are exposed when facing spiritual challenges
• Only God’s authority makes true victory possible
• You desperately need Jesus to do the real heavy lifting
• Jesus is not just a helper
• He is the source of all power to overcome sin and darkness
• Our dependence on Him is not optional, but essential
You need the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit to make any difference in this world. The Holy Spirit transforms –
• Weakness into Strength
• Confusion into Clarity
• Defeat into Victory
Let me be clear, whenever you find yourself engaged in a spiritual battle for your family, your loved ones, or your children, it is absolutely crucial to recognize the seriousness of what you face. Spiritual warfare is not a matter to take lightly or approach with superficial actions. You must fully understand the reality of the enemy and the depth of the struggle. In these moments, you need much more than —
• Simply putting on your Sunday best and attending church services, as if outward appearance or routine can win spiritual battles
• Going through motions like anointing your house with oil, thinking that rituals alone will drive away darkness
• Laying hands on your loved ones without genuine faith, spiritual authority, or dependence on Christ
• Pretending to speak in tongues or putting on a show of spirituality, when what’s needed is authentic connection with God’s power
The sons of Sceva had all the looks of being ready for the battle but no way to fight it. Even worse, they spoke the name that always causes a reaction among the enemy. They suffered as a result.
• Demons tremble at His very name
• The name guarantees that the Sons of Sceva had the attention of the evil spirit
• It is clear they were trying to oppose the spirit
The same thing occurs when you set out to conquer a stronghold of sin in your life.
• When you set your heart on expelling the enemy from your home and heart, you get the attention of that enemy
• Satan does not go down easily
• He is not afraid of any simple man or woman
• You need to bring much more to the fight if you are expecting to defeat evil
This is what happens with the Sons of Sceva.
• They get the evil spirit’s attention with the name of Jesus
• They are intent on driving the demon out
• Yet, when the demon looks at them it becomes obvious that Jesus is not with them
• They are relying solely on their own strength and planning
• No Jesus means No Power
• This means they stand defenseless before the powers of darkness
This is why we don’t get spiritual breakthroughs most of the time. The reason we so often fail to experience true spiritual change is because we are relying on our own strength - wisdom - will power rather than trusting in the presence and power of Jesus. We attempt to break through spiritual barriers by our own methods, forgetting that victory over the enemy is not possible apart from Christ.
When we leave Jesus out of the equation, we are fighting battles unarmed and unprotected.
• No Jesus – No Authority
• No Jesus – No Power
• No Jesus – No Deliverance
• No Jesus – No Breakthrough
• No Jesus – No Protection
• No Jesus – No True Victory
The sad reality is that many in the Churches today have been duped by the rise of Imitators of Paul. We see it play out over and over today.
• How many times have you seen a television evangelists asking for money
• Offering to send some trinket that has been blessed
• Offering some Prayer Cloth that has been prayed over
• Offering some Holy Water that has been blessed – probably from their kitchen faucet
• Offering some Holy Oil from Jerusalem – Most of the time not lying, there is a -
o Jerusalem, NY
o Jerusalem, Arkansas
o Jerusalem, Ohio
• The idea is that the use of the trinket or item would bring fortune or healing
• This is a passage that has inspired that kind of imitation
We are told that these seven were itinerant Jewish exorcists. We have such today. Men and women who claim to be able to exorcise evil spirits. There are Catholics Priests and even some Protestants who believe that demon possession remains to our time and that they have the authority from God to cast them out.
• They claim these powers even though they are often teaching religious error, and engaging in activities and worship that do not have Divine approval
• We can’t cast out demons without the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives
o Can’t stop smoking – But you have the power of the Holy Spirit
o Can’t stop cussing – But you have the power of the Holy Spirit
o Can’t stop sneaking and creeping – But you have the power of the Holy Spirit
o Can’t stop drinking – But you have the power of the Holy Spirit
o Can’t come to Sunday School, Prayer Service or Bible Study – But you have the power of the Holy Spirit
• In this they mimic the seven sons of Sceva
History tells us Jewish exorcists like these would invoke names from the past to try to drive out evil spirits. They ordered the demon to depart in the name of DAVID or SOLOMON and then crossed their fingers and hoped it would work. They were unsuccessful but the interactions were also generally uneventful. They were often charlatans and fakes there to take advantage of those in distress.
Things appear to go well for them until the Sons of Sceva encountered the man in Acts 19. The Bible sets out they decided to up their game a bit this time.
• They thought they would follow the pattern of Paul’s successful exorcisms
• They added the name of Jesus to their act
• They did so without understanding it or being born again themselves
Do you remember the response of the demons collectively named LEGION in the Country of the Gadarenes when Jesus cast them out of a wild man in ST. LUKE 8? “WHEN HE [THE MAN, SPEAKING THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF LEGION] SAW JESUS, HE CRIED OUT, FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM, AND WITH A LOUD VOICE SAID, ‘WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH YOU, JESUS, SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I BEG YOU, DO NOT TORMENT ME!’” we are told, “THEY BEGGED HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT COMMAND THEM TO GO OUT INTO THE ABYSS.” JESUS SUCCESSFULLY CAST THE DEMONS OUT INTO A HERD OF SWINE WHICH THEN “RAN VIOLENTLY DOWN THE STEEP PLACE INTO THE LAKE AND DROWNED.”
• Jesus said in ST. MATTHE 28:18, “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH”
• The demons recognized Jesus because of who He was, and the authority He had over them!
• JAMES 2:19 “YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ONE GOD. YOU DO WELL. EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE AND TREMBLE!”
However, the Itinerant Jewish Exorcists made the same claim! They said, “WE EXORCISE YOU BY THE JESUS WHOM PAUL PREACHES” – we will revisit that in a few minutes.
• This did not make their claim true
• Just because you do something and claim that it is in Jesus’ name, does not mean it is so
• In Jesus’ name means by His authority
• Did Jesus give you permission?
• Saying He did when He did not will bring condemnation!
o Using the name of Jesus is not a Secret Potion
o Using the name of Jesus is not Magic
o Using the name of Jesus is not a Decree
• Consider Jesus’ words found in ST. MATTHEW 7:21-23 “NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, LORD, LORD,’ SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, ‘LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN YOUR NAME, CAST OUT DEMONS IN YOUR NAME, AND DONE MANY WONDERS IN YOUR NAME?’ AND THEN I WILL DECLARE TO THEM, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY!’”
Whatever their feelings about Christianity, these Seven Sons of Sceva, they observed Christians casting out demons in Jesus’ name. So, they decided to follow their example. They go up to demon-possessed people and say, “IN THE NAME OF THE JESUS WHOM PAUL PREACHES, I COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT.” We don’t Preach Jesus, but Paul does - We don’t believe in this Jesus but Paul does --
• Now, the passage doesn’t say why Sceva’s sons start to drive out demons
• As Jews, perhaps they felt threatened by the followers of “the Way” (as Christians were first called)
• After all, their father was a chief priest
• Christianity presented a power challenge to the old ways
• Maybe they felt they had to compete with this new thing that had come along
• Perhaps they did it for money purposes, getting people to pay them to heal their demon-possessed relatives could be big business
• Perhaps they did it for fame and acclaim
• Or perhaps they didn’t want the Christians doing all the miracles
• Regardless, their plan appears to work at first
• But it has consequences they didn’t expect
They did not know Jesus themselves.
• They had no relationship with Him
• They certainly did not rely on Him
• His name was just as dead and empty to them as Solomon’s
• It is obvious they did not have His power working through them
• Jesus was just part of a spell or formula to be followed, not the maker of Heaven and Earth, King of King, Lord of Lords
These knuckleheads, seeing the amazing work of the Spirit through Paul, they decide to go around and cast out demons using an indirect approach - “IN THE NAME OF THE JESUS WHOM PAUL PREACHES, I COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT.”
• Spiritual warfare is not a subject that is often taught, certainly not from the pulpit
• People might think we have gone overboard, lost our minds, or simply left reality behind
• Yet we know we are spiritual beings
• Eternity is all around us, it is what we long for
The sons found out the hard way when they were attempting to cast out a demon in the Name of Jesus via Paul. They encounter this very powerful spirit inside a house. They try to cast it out, as they had always done. They INVOKE THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOM PAUL PREACHED, for the demon to leave.
• Something bizarre happened
Let’s look at the exact words of the passage to get an idea. “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW, BUT WHO ARE YOU?” The demon then proceeds to overpower all of them, beat them, strip them naked, and send them bleeding and wounded from the house.
• The demon could tell who had the Holy Spirit indwelling them
• It recognized Paul, after all, who had converted several chapters prior
• The evil spirit answered them, “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW ABOUT, BUT WHO ARE YOU?”
• Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all
• He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding
--You can’t cast out a demon without Jesus’ name
--Demons tremble at the sound of Jesus’ name
--Demon said Paul I know
--We saw Paul encounter Jesus on the Damascus Road
--We saw Paul walk and move in the Power of the Holy Spirit
--BUT WHO ARE YOU?
--We don’t see the Power of the Holy Spirit operating and moving in your life
--We don’t see the Anointing or the Oil on your life
--We know Jesus from the foundation of time
--We know Jesus, before there was a WHEN or a WHERE, Jesus was already there
--We know Jesus for he created you “A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS”
--We know Jesus when he laid in a lowly Manger in Bethlehem
--We know Jesus when he Turned Water into Wine
--We know Jesus when he Calmed the Raging Sea
--We know Jesus when he Walked out on the Water
--We know Jesus when he fed 5,000 with Two Tiny Fish and Five Loaves of Bread
--We know Jesus when he Marched up the Del La Rosa carrying a Cross
--We know Jesus when he was Crucified on Calvary
--We know Jesus when he hung from the 6th to the 9th Hour
--We know Jesus when he hung His head and died
--We know Jesus when we thought we defeated him in death
--We know Jesus because we had him the Grave for Three Days
--We know Jesus for Early Sunday Morning he God Up
--We know Jesus because he proclaimed -- “O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?”
--We know Jesus because he is now SEATED ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER
--We know Jesus because one day He is Coming Back Again
--BUT WHO ARE YOU?
