So the war rages on, for now, until the appointed day when King Jesus will speak a decisive and final end to the conflict.
Pastors and church leaders are on the front lines of the battle, where the smell of smoke, sweat and blood always hangs in the air.
In the week leading up to Easter, my friend and fellow pastor Cary Schmidt wrote this post on his Facebook timeline and it struck home…
I happen to believe that Satan’s servants are keen observers of our patterns, behaviors and weaknesses. The book of Acts contains a seemingly bizarre story of some men who attempted to use God’s power without God’s blessing:
God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 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!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 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.
It was a rough day for these false priests! But what catches my attention is what the Bible says about how these demons related to Paul and to Jesus.
Jesus I know…and Paul I know…but who are you?
This little verse tells me two things about the forces of darkness.
