MESSING WITH DEMONS

“Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul’s “game”. They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, ‘I command you by the name of the Jesus preached by Paul,’ The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: ‘I know Jesus and I’ve heard of Paul, but who are you?’ Then the possessed man went berserk — jumped the exorcists, beat them up and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.” Acts 19:13-16 (The Message).

Such was the city of Ephesus, a city of idol-worship and a city of witch-craft and demon-possession! Like god, like people! Messing around with demons was okay until they got inside and then it was another story. Idols, demons and exorcists went together. Some let them in and others tried to get them out!

During this time of heightened supernatural activity, demons were making their unwanted presence felt. Paul was God’s instrument for dealing with them, both in the bodies of the sick and in the spirits of the tormented. But there were others who tried to do what Paul was doing without realising that they were on the wrong side!

How do demons get in in the first place? Choices! It’s all about choices. The first choice is to ignore or reject God as the rightful owner of your life. This happens every time you choose to follow the desires and appetites of your sinful nature instead of heeding the warnings of His Word. Until you acknowledge that Jesus is the rightful authority in your life and give over the reins to Him, you will have to go it alone under the influence of the unseen usurper, the devil.

Follow the patterns of sin long enough and the devil begins to make his presence felt. He offers all sorts of perks for following him without revealing the handcuffs that tie you to him. Eventually he sends in his “squatters” to occupy the territory he has illegally claimed and then it’s too late. He has you hooked and you are his slave; and remember, he is a destroyer. Only then will you begin to taste the fruits of his occupation.

Why were the sons of Sceva not only impotent to cast the demons out but also victims of their abuse? They were on the devil’s side. Only a radical relocation from the dominion of darkness to the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus will break the chains of the devil’s dominion over you. Only Jesus can set prisoners free.

He did it by dying, an innocent man as a criminal, condemned by those who were the devil’s emissaries and who thought they were right. He came back from the dead, not only to prove His innocence, but also to take His rightful place as Lord of the universe He had created and of all those who recognise who He is and bow to Him.

Jesus warned that a house divided against itself will not stand. People on the devil’s side cannot cast out demons. They only set themselves up for a beating. And likewise, believers who make it their business to oppose other believers also set themselves up, and the fellowship to which they belong, for serious damage.

We have to know to whom we belong and to whom we owe our allegiance. If we are God’s children, we belong to Jesus, and we are members of His body. We cannot take up arms against fellow believers and hope to emerge unscathed.

We can be the answer to Jesus’ prayer, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe on me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” John 17:20 (NIV).