Scripture Post #1,113: *SELF EMPOWERED*

Acts 19:15: 

"And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own.

Context:

Acts 19:11: "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:"

V. 12: "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

V. 13: "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."

V. 14: "And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so."

V. 15: "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

V. 16: "And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."

The 7 sons of Sceva were  *SELF EMPOWERED* while attempting an exorcism. This resulted in 1 demon-possessed man physically overpowering and literally beating the clothes off of 7 men. Scevas sons wanted to be like the Apostle Paul, when they should've been like JESUS. Acts 19:13 states that Scevas sons took it upon themselves (their 1st mistake) to call over to them a man who had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." They used Paul's name as if it would be the key to unlock JESUS, WHOSE power would expel demons from those possessed. When we do things in our own power attempting to add GOD to it, it always ends in disaster. You can't start with self, then add CHRIST. You must start and finish the same way: with JESUS. 

Self-denied and CHRIST-applied!

Originally Published: Wed. 9/30/15