The Powerful name of Jesus

A New York City businessman moved to the country and bought a piece of land.

He went to the local feed and livestock store and talked to the proprietor about how he was going to take up chicken farming.

He then asked to buy 100 chicks.

"That’s a lot of chicks," commented the proprietor. "I mean business," the man replied.

A week later the new farmer was back again. "I need another 100 chicks," he said. "Boy, you are serious about this chicken farming," the man told him.

"Yeah," the man replied. "If I can iron out a few problems."

"Problems?" asked the proprietor. "Yeah," replied the man, "I think I planted that last batch too close together."

We cannot grow by burying ourselves and expecting sprouts.

We must make ourselves available to the work of the Lord.

When we do this things will get interesting – life will be challenging.

We live in a fallen world that is under the grip of the evil one and we must be prepared to do spiritual battle.

We will see the Gospel today come into full conflict with the domain of darkness.

We will see the power of God’s kingdom come into direct conflict with satan’s kingdom.

When Paul came to Ephesus he found a city that was completely in the grip of superstition, fear, demonism and darkness.

 Here the great temple of Artemis was located (also called Diane), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World.

But this temple is also a seat of great immorality and depravity.

The major problem in Ephesus was that is was a center for the practice of magical arts, especially the casting of spells on people and things.

Paul assaulted this stronghold of evil with the weapons of spiritual warfare.

It was from this city that Paul wrote the church at Corinth warning,

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)

 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

And it was to Ephesus that he wrote from Rome saying,

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places

It seems suggestive that Paul’s most complete study of spiritual powers and the battle Christians face comes from this letter to the Ephesians.

Today in our passage we find Paul in Ephesus boldly teaching and proclaiming the Gospel message.

Paul first tried to teach in the Synagogue but the Jews had hardened their heart to the gospel so he started to teach at the school of tyrannus.

The school of Tyrannus would have been open in the morning for regular students.

As the day got hotter the Ephesians would take their siesta during the middle portion of the day and afternoon.

More than likely Paul would have taught there during that siesta.

Now what is remarkable about this school that Paul founded for Christ was that the entire province of Asia heard about Christ because of this teaching.

Here is what I think happened. Paul worked as a tentmaker during the morning hours.

How do I know this- well I can build a case from Paul addressing the Ephesian elders in Acts 20

"You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me." (Acts 20:34)

He worked with his hands probably during the morning and then when the school closed for siesta he went in to teach.

We know from historical extrabiblical sources – the school of Tyrannus was rented by Paul from 11:00 am to 4pm

Now this isn’t inspired info but it makes sense to the context of this passage and the things we know about ancient culture.

I believe this school was a mission training ground the only explanation for Asia hearing the Gospel in this two year period is that Paul taught these people and then they went out and taught others.

Now we should ask a this pointed question this morning – is our church like the school of Tyrannus?

Are we training our members to do spiritual battle with our culture?

Are we devoted to classes to equip?

Are we training our children to be the mission to our city and state?

If Barna is correct in their polling – the Nons of our society are on the rise – the nons are the people that claim no religious affiliation.

We need a school of Tyrannus right here at Mimosa that would train and equip.

Why cant we do this?

Don’t we believe the Gospel is just as true as it was back then?

Don’t we believe that people need to be saved as bad as people back then did?

Are all of us here today pushing to learn and grow in Christ like these folks with Paul or are we going through the motions?

Are we distracted by things that really don’t matter?

All I know is that Paul made such a difference through Christ that Satan knew who he was.

The demons of Hell knew who Paul was.

Acts 19: 11-16   

11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

We see that Paul was doing extraordinary things at Ephesus.

To provide incontrovertible evidence that the message was true, God performed extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.

“Luke himself is not content to describe these events as mere ‘miracles’, dynameis, demonstrations of divine power; he adds the adjective tychousas, which is variously translated ‘special’

 (AV), ‘singular’ (NEB), ‘remarkable’ (JB) and ‘extraordinary’ (RSV, NIV).

He did not regard them as typical, even for ‘miracles.’”

What Paul was doing was amazing even for the miraculous.

God wanted to make sure that this message was confirmed and that Asian Minor would be won for Jesus Christ.

Even the handkerchiefs that Paul touched had power.

God was so powerful that He could take the physical things of this world and bring about spiritual blessing.

That is why we are not Gnostics today – the Gnostics believed the physical and spiritual could not interact.

We know that this is not true.

Jesus used mud on someone’s eyes once to help in healing a man of blindness.

We know in the old testament there was this miraculous and almost strange story of Elisha’s bones

(2 Kings 13:14,20-21 RSV)

"Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him, and wept before him ... So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet."

When this man touched the bones of Elisha he was brought back to life.

You see it was not unheard of for physical items to be connected to spiritual blessing and the miraculous.

The handkerchiefs mentioned here are literally sweatbands, the word translated here literally means “sweat.”

So these clothes were literally sweat bands in the ancient world.

The devil knew exactly who the true believers were he had to watch out for.

The devil still knows who the true believers are. a We’ve looked at two traits that will bring you to the devils attention.

(1) Believe in the Name of Jesus.

 (2) Live in the Name of Jesus

I hope you will take on the traits of a life that ensures your name is known by the devil

 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.

When you live for Christ and you are doing the work of the Lord Satan will know who you are.

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.

  More than simple belief in facts about Jesus.

James tells us:

James 2:19

19 You believe that God is one. You do well ; the demons also believe, and shudder.

True faith is more than just head knowledge -  it is faith that changes everything – it is faith that is willing to trust just like Abraham trusted when God called him to leave his hometown.

Even the demons believe in God and shudder.

Paul had real belief in Jesus – this was something that he had totally surrendered to.

In our story the Jews and the seven sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus to cast out demons but the name of Jesus meant nothing to them.

The name of Jesus was like a good luck charm or something to be manipulated.

Much like New Age magic today where the forces of the universe are supposedly manipulated by witches.

These men wanted to manipulate the power of Jesus name.

Many people do this today – they claim Jesus and they claim to be followers of him but they really don’t believe.

They don’t have a faith that has transformed them. 

They don’t have a faith that trusts in Jesus like Abraham trusted in God’s promises. 

Jesus name is powerful – it is powerful to those that believe:

1)   Jesus has all authority –

In John 13:3 we know God has given all things to Jesus

Matthew 28 Jesus told His disciples that HE had ALL authority.

Jesus has authority and there is authority in His name.

2)    Jude 25

to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Glory – the very glory of God the same glory that came and filled the Temple of Solomon

Majesty – the majestic Lord that is worthy of praise and honer

And as I have already said – dominion – He has ultimate kingly authority

But for us the most important thing to remember is this:

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."

His name is the name that brings salvation.  There is salvation found nowhere else but Jesus

You cannot be saved by your good works – just because you may be a good person doesn’t mean you will be saved.

Allah, Buddha, none of those can save you.

There is only one name that has the authority to bring about the salvation of your soul and that is Jesus Christ Son of the Most High God.

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 Peyton Manning $5.3 Million

 A baseball bat in my hands is worth $30, in the hands of Josh Hamilton $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 an unbeliever means nothing

But the name of Jesus Christ on someone with faith in their heart means their very soul

The very thing that should be most precious to you – your very eternal destiny is wrapped up in this powerful name of Jesus Christ.

II The second way the devil will know your name if. . .YOU LIVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

 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 was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord ?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."

Paul had an encounter with the Living Christ and was never the same again.

Paul was a changed man he went from persecutor to a man on fire for God’s Kingdom.

He went from someone that did not concern the gates of Hell to an enemy of Satan and child of the Kingdom of light.

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?

Paul makes it clear that he is living now for Christ.

Now the lens for which we see all of life is the crucified Jesus – when you see the world through a savior that was crucified

A king that was enthroned on a Roman cross – everything changes.

The power struggles of this life

The man-pleasing endeavors all tend to fade into the background – they no longer matter – we just see Christ – we just want to live for Him and His kingdom.

Paul was crucified to his old self and now lived for Jesus.

vv: [15] One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

The demon responses by saying, “Jesus I know (using the word that means I know him with a deep knowledge)

and Paul I am acquainted with ( I know his name, I know who he is)

but who are you?” Two different words for “know” are used in this verse.

The demon says, Jesus I know (ginosko – indicative present active)

and Paul I know (espistamai, I am acquainted with)

You see the evil spirit did not know these guys because they didn’t live for Christ –

Paul was mighty to the Devil not because of Paul but because of Christ who lived in him.

 

That is the same power that God gives you today to live – God wants to live through you- not you but Christ in you.

 

That is the hope of glory- that is the great mystery of our faith. 

Colossians 1: 26-27

26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

You see this is the mystery that was hidden until Christ came-

The hope of glory- that hope is Christ in us.

That is what our life is all about – Christ wants to live through you – you must empty yourself and die to you and let Christ live in you and through you.

That is what this evil demon saw in Paul

It saw Christ the powerful Lord of the universe living in this humble apostle.

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.

III. False belief will be exposed

We see that the end of this story that we read in Acts 19 is almost comical

These men try to use the name of Jesus in this magical way and this demon possessed man jumps on them.

Beats them so badly that they escape from him naked.

He beats them so bad that they run out without clothes just to escape.

Just like these men – those that have a pseudo faith and just simply claim Jesus will be exposed one day.

That exposing will happen at the feet of Jesus Christ.

Each one of us here today will face Christ and that is all of our destinies whether people want to believe it or not.

Matthew 7 tells of this type of exposing of false faith.

Matthew 7: 20-23

.20"So then, you will know them by their fruits.21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?'23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

There will be people that claim to know Jesus  on the day of judgment

There will be people that say they prophesied, cast out demons in the name of Jesus and perform miracles.

But they will be lost forever – they will be cast out of the presence of Christ because their faith was not real.

It was not sincere.

The faith that Jesus calls us to can be illustrated by the following story:

There was a famous tight rope walker that wanted to prove to the world he could walk across a tight rope over Niagara Falls.

He went across way about the cascading water with hundreds of people watching.

He next put a wheelbarrow on the tightrope and walked across with ease.

He then called out the audience and asked them if they believed he could go back across with the wheel barrow blindfolded.

The crowd was screaming out yes – we believe in you – we believe you can do it.

The man saw one young man crying out the loudest of all his belief and told him- if you believe I can do it get in the wheelbarrow.

Christ is calling us today – he is calling us out of the mundane life that we live to ourselves.

He is calling us to true conversion

He is calling us to believe so much that we will get in the wheel barrow – truly all in – leave all that selfish desire behind.

You see this is the opposite of works righteousness.

Works righteousness says I will do it- I will make a change.

But the Lord Jesus says no- You die – you come empty and I will fill you up.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer famously said that Jesus bids you to come and die.

Jesus bids you today to come and die to your self- you are empty and now God will fill you up.