Sermon Notes for 3/2/2014 (Acts 19:11-20)
The Name and the Word
A. Do evil spirits know your name? (11-16)
1) The power of Jesus' name (11, 12)
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 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.
2) The power that works through those who believe from their hearts (13-16)
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." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, 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.
B. The manifestation of power (17-20)
1) Lives are changed (17-19)
When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
2) The word of the Lord spreads and grows in power (20)
In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Summary
There is power in Jesus' name. This power is not accessed like magic or sorcery, but is manifested in the lives of those who truly believe from their hearts. It is through this power that we can heal and cast out evil spirits. God's power is made visible through his people. Sometimes, we don't recognize God's power in a situation until we look back on it later and realize that only God could have worked things out in a particular way. God is almighty and it's no surprise that he can do miraculous things. The important thing is for us to follow God and believe from our hearts, knowing that as we do so, we don't need to need to worry about being overpowered by evil spirits. In this way, we will see the word of the Lord spreading and growing in power.
For Discussion
1) Why were the chief priest's sons attacked?
2) What is the difference between miracles done in Jesus' name and magic?
The Name and the Word
A. Do evil spirits know your name? (11-16)
1) The power of Jesus' name (11, 12)
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 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.
2) The power that works through those who believe from their hearts (13-16)
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." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, 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.
B. The manifestation of power (17-20)
1) Lives are changed (17-19)
When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
2) The word of the Lord spreads and grows in power (20)
In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Summary
There is power in Jesus' name. This power is not accessed like magic or sorcery, but is manifested in the lives of those who truly believe from their hearts. It is through this power that we can heal and cast out evil spirits. God's power is made visible through his people. Sometimes, we don't recognize God's power in a situation until we look back on it later and realize that only God could have worked things out in a particular way. God is almighty and it's no surprise that he can do miraculous things. The important thing is for us to follow God and believe from our hearts, knowing that as we do so, we don't need to need to worry about being overpowered by evil spirits. In this way, we will see the word of the Lord spreading and growing in power.
For Discussion
1) Why were the chief priest's sons attacked?
2) What is the difference between miracles done in Jesus' name and magic?