Does The Devil Know Your Name?
July 13, 2003
Acts 19:11-16 Chester’s FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
[11] God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, [12] so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. [13] Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." [14] Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. [15] One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" [16] 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. -Acts 19:11-16 NIV
A The devil knew exactly who the true believers were he had to watch out for. (ETS) The devil still knows who the true believers are. (ESS)
a We’ve looked at two traits that will bring you to the devils attention.
b (1) Believe in the Name of Jesus. (2) Live in the Name of Jesus
B I hope you will take on the traits of a life that ensures your name is known by the devil. (Objective)
a Believe: (Inside Job) Believing is the difference between facts/faith, head/heart.
b Live: (Outside Job) A personal relationship with Jesus that translates into a public lifestyle.
C What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell’s post office? (Probing Question)
I The devil will know your name if. . .YOU BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
A Paul was doing great & extraordinary miracles by the power of Jesus’ name.
(People w/ cancer were cured, leprosy, blood disease, mental disorders, blindness, crippled, deaf, mute, lame)
a Paul believed in Jesus.
*More than simple belief in facts about Jesus.
[19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.(Jms. 2:19)
*Paul had a life changing faith in Jesus. Jesus’ name meant something to Paul the believer.
b The Seven Sons of Sceva tried doing great & extraordinary miracles by the power of Jesus name. (What happened when they did?)
vv:13b "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."
NOTICE what they did not say: "In the name of Jesus, whom we preach/believe. . ."
*The name of Jesus meant something to Paul. It meant little to the 7 Sons of Sceva. If Jesus name meant something to these seven guys, they could/would have cast demons like Paul did.
B How many people have you heard use "In Jesus Name" like a Christian Abracadabra?
a They claim things in Jesus name but. . .
They don’t get any better, not healed, they still get divorced, stay miserable.
*Sometimes God’s answer is simply "No." Other times I think folks just do not get the concept behind the whole "In Jesus Name" thing.!
b To the believer. . .Jesus is the sweetest name they know!!
(Print lyrics to "Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know" on PowerPoint. I’ll lead the congregation through this chorus during the sermon.)
*Power in Jesus name (Lk. 9:1, Jn. 13:3, 14:13, 14, 1 Cor. 5:4)
*Majesty in His name (Jude 25)
*Name above all names (Ps. 138:2, Eph. 1:21)
AC 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The only name by which we are saved!! (Not Buddha, Allah, Works, Church Membership, Religion) It’s in a relationship with Jesus!
*Jesus names means something to those who believe/trust in Him.
*Jesus names means little to those who do not believe/trust in Him.
C A Basketball in my hands is worth $6, in the hands of Tim Duncan $70.9 Million
A football in my hands is worth $8, in the hands of Kurt Warner $5.3 Million
A baseball bat in my hands is worth $30, in the hands of Barry Bonds $90 Mill.
A steering wheel in my hands is worth $25, in the hands of Jeff Gordon $49 Mill.
A tennis racket in my hands $35, Roger Federer $938,596.14
A golf club in my hands is worth $15, in the hands of Tiger Woods $150 Mill.
A set of nails in my hand are worth .13 cents, in the hands of Jesus. . .Priceless.
The name of Jesus on the lips of a person who doesn’t believe/faith. . . weak.
The name of Jesus from the lips of a believer who has sold out to Jesus. . .
*Mountains will bow down, *Seas will roar, *marriages will be restored, *illnesses healed, *comfort to the hurting, *strength to the weak,
*riches are given to the poor, *fractured relationships are mended,
*churches are grown, *people are saved, *nations are awakened spiritually, *revival happens!!!
T.S.: The devil knows those by name who believe in the name of Jesus.
II The second way the devil will know your name if. . .YOU LIVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
A The devil probably did not always know Paul. (At one time in Paul’s life he was killing Christians and closing churches for a living. ZERO Threat to the devil. Wasn’t a blip on the Hell’s Radar.) Something Happened!
*Acts 9:3-5 [3] As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" [5] "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. [6] "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
a Paul was NEVER the same again after he had an encounter with Jesus.
(Taken out the Lion’s book of death and put in the Lamb’s book of life)
*Went from being an enemy of Gods to a friend of Gods.
b Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
WHO WAS PAUL LIVING FOR?
vv: [15] One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
*The devil was aware/knew what happened to Paul. Blip showed up! Threat and a Clear and Present Danger to Hell!
*The Seven Sons of Sceva were living for $, Power, Prestige, Titles. . . NO Blip, No Threat, The devil didn’t even know them!
B The moment you have a life changing encounter with Jesus the devil is aware of it.
a I Cor. 5:15
[15] And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
*The six-year-old grandson of Ruth Kirby told his mother that he had been baptized. Mom knew he hadn’t been formally baptized, so she probed further into the issue. She asked him to explain what he meant by "baptized." Little Blake then enlightened his mom, "Last night in the bathtub I put my face under the water and thought about Jesus."
*Living for Jesus is more than "believing" or "thinking" about Jesus. It means you are LIVING for Jesus.
Those living for Jesus are no longer living for...
Pleasure Power Greed Money Pride
Popularity Lust LIVING FOR JESUS
b The devil knows who is living for Jesus!
Since the devil can no longer take your soul to hell he (the devil) will try his level best to make your life hell.
Conclusion:
A The devil knew exactly who the true believers were he had to watch out for. (ETS) The devil still knows who the true believers are. (ESS)
a We’ve looked at two traits that will bring you to the devils attention.
b (1) Believe in the Name of Jesus. (2) Live in the Name of Jesus
B I hope you will take on the traits of a life that ensures your name is known by the devil. (Objective)
a Believe: (Inside Job) Believing is the difference between facts/faith, head/heart.
b Live: (Outside Job) A personal relationship with Jesus that translates into a public lifestyle.
C What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell’s post office? (Probing Question)
a Apparently it ticks the devil off if a person who has no business using the name of Jesus uses the name of Jesus. (vv:16) That’s bad, but it gets worse.
b MT 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ [23] Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
*Guess who else gets mad if people use Jesus name who have no business using His name?
*God will tell those folks, "I don’t know you. Away from me."
*Satan will say to those folks, "I don’t know you. But you can stay."
c What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell’s post office. (Probing Question)
*Some of you need to have a life changing encounter with Jesus today.
*Believe. *Live. (Not living in a way that is threatening to the devil. Your on God’s rooster, but your on the Disabled List. NO THREAT.)
*Give your heart/Sin/Life to him today!
*Pray!
