essay
WHO ARE YOU?
- WHO ARE YOU? “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” The above quote is from Acts 19:15. The question, “who are you?” seems simple and insignificant. It is not. It raises questions that are of eternal significance. In order to probe more deeply let us consider the historical framework of the question. It was spoken in the city of Ephesus almost two thousand years ago. It was a time of great evangelism. Everyone in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:10.) It was also a time of great miracles. God gave special power to Paul so that aprons or handkerchiefs he touched brought healing to those who were sick, or who had evil spirits (vss. 11-12.). A Jewish priest named Sceva had seven sons who were there at that time. They were exorcists. These men decided to try and control evil spirits by using the name of Jesus. When they invoked His name, however, the experiment backfired. The evil spirit answered: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” The evil spirit knew about Jesus, and he knew about Paul. He had, however, never heard of the seven sons of Sceva. These men may have been well known at the local synagogue, but they had no standing in the spirit world. The man with the evil spirit leaped on them and prevailed against them. The Jews fled from his house naked and wounded. This story became well know to everyone in Ephesus and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Most of us are well known somewhere. It is usually where we spend time, or have influence. We are known at home because we spend time there. We may be known at work because we have an influential position. We are not known where we spend no time, or have no influence. Paul spent a lot of time “in the spirit” or dealing with spiritual things. Please consider:
- Walk in the Spirit - Gal. 5:16
- Live in the Spirit - Gal. 5:25
- Be renewed in the Spirit - Eph. 4:23
- Pray in the Spirit - Eph. 6:18; 1 Cor. 14:15
- Worship in the Spirit - Phil. 3:3
- Love in the Spirit - Col. 1:8
- Sing in the Spirit - 1 Cor. 14:15, etc. In his letter to the Ephesians he used the expression “heavenly places” five time. This is an obvious reference to the realm of the spirit. Here are promises for the believer regarding the world of the spirit.
- We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3.)
- Christ is at God’s right hand in heavenly places (Eph. 1:20.)
- We sit together with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6.)
- We display the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and power in heavenly places (Eph. 3:10.)
- We wrestle against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12.) JESUS is the Lord of the universe. God has ordained that angels, authorities and powers be subject unto Him (1 Pet. 3:22.) Even evil spirits immediately recognized Jesus (Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34.) The spirits all know about Jesus. PAUL spent some much time and energy in the spirit that the spirits also knew him. THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA - NO! The spirits had never heard of them. What about you? Do you spend much time “in the Spirit.” Does anyone “in heavenly places” recognize who you are? Here is a good place to start. Confess Jesus Christ today for He has promised: “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:” (Luke 12:8)