The Pilgrim Path---Acts 19: 11 – 20

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the LORD Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the LORD Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believing came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the LORD continued to increase and prevail mightily.

“AND FEAR FELL UPON THEM…”

---Sick people and spiritually oppressed souls were healed---simply by “touching” cloth that had been close to the Apostle Paul. That is an extraordinary miracle! I have seen “modern day” ministries offer some kind of similar cloth for a “contribution”---but there is no basis for such a revenue scheme in the text (and Paul asked for no money).

---Seven Sons of Sceva thought it might be easy to cast out demons invoking the name of Jesus. There was a problem: These sons of the Jewish High Priest were not followers of the Living Christ---and were incapable of any “power” in the real spiritual battle at hand (Ephesians 6: 12). Genuine spiritual encounters without power conveyed through the Sovereign Savior can leave you beaten and naked (yikes). Which begs the question: Do You walk in brokenness and dependence upon the Christ of God---or is Jesus just an “add on” to the history and phenomenology of religion for you? Must you have Jesus to live? Does HE “have” You?

---Surrender of the most intimate and personal habits occurred at Ephesus. What a phrase is revealed in verse 18, “confessing and divulging their practices”---this was a work of the Holy Spirit! The people were tied up in the occult and demonic sphere. They brought their “guidebooks” to be burned (and they were not cheap). By destroying these books---others would not be tempted to use them! This was an offering--- prompted by “opened hearts” before the LORD. No one drove them or compelled them---No One but the Holy Spirit---and they obeyed!

---Scripture’s influence grew and grew among the people---Thanks be to God!

From Simon Kistemaker: The Greek text reveals that these Christians were gradually coming forward, probably in worship services, where they first confessed and then reported that they were practicing magic. Suddenly they realized that their conduct was unbecoming to a Christian lifestyle and that they had to put aside their evil deeds. What were their evil deeds? These people were practicing divination and sorcery, interpreting signs and omens, engaging in black magic, casting charms, or consulting the dead. Now they were told that long ago God had forbidden these detestable practices (Deut. 18: 10 – 14). The Word of God convicted the Ephesian believers of their sin. As a result, they repented and turned from their evil deeds.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world:

---An American Photojournalist was killed in Ukraine on Sunday in the town of Irpin. Brent Renaud was 50 years old---former Peabody Award Winner and contributor to the New York Times…

---Russian Missiles hit a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland on Sunday, killing at least 35 and wounding 134…

---The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Filippo Grandi) put the number of Ukrainians that have fled their nation at 2.7 million…

---The war is disrupting the flow of medical supplies: if you need an item such as insulin---you are finding it unavailable…

---Sky News reports that Putin attempts to recruit soldiers from 13 “centers” in the nation of Syria (the pay is $600 a month to fight in Russia---tragic and pitiful).

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet…” Matthew 24: 6

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason