July 14, 2025 • 20 mins
When seven sons of a Jewish priest try to mimic Paul’s miracles by invoking Jesus' name without faith, they face the wrath of a demon who knows Jesus and Paul but dismisses them, leaving the entire city of Ephesus shaken by the power of the true gospel.
In Ephesus, Paul teaches about the Holy Spirit and performs miracles, but the seven sons of Sceva, seeking their own fame, attempt to cast out a demon in the name of "the Jesus whom Paul preaches"—only to be violently overpowered by the demon, exposing their lack of true faith and authority. This terrifying event strengthens the believers' trust in Paul’s teaching and the power of Jesus, spreading fear and reverence throughout the city.
Today's Bible verse is John 14:13, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do
that the Father may be glorified in the Son John
fourteen thirteen. Lord Jesus, we thank you for your promise
in John fourteen thirteen. Then whatever we ask in your name,
you will do so that the Father may be glorified.
(00:22):
We stand in awe of this gift, knowing that you
are our mediator and advocate. Lord. Ignite our hearts with
faith to believe in the power of your name. Help
us to align our desires with your will, seeking your
glory above all else. Strengthen us to pray boldly, trusting
(00:49):
that you hear and answer us. May our prayers reflect
your heart, bringing transformation, healing, and hope to a world
in need. Use us, Lord, to reveal your love and power,
that your name may be glorified in every word we
(01:12):
speak and every prayer we lift up. Then your mighty name. Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. This is the
Jesus Podcast. Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination
and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus
(01:35):
encounters with and power over demons. Does this podcast given
you hope? We'd love it if you rated reviewed, and
shared it with a friend, thanks for making the mission possible.
Paul walked through the sloping hills leading to Ephesus. He
(01:56):
prayed for the brethren in the city as he took
in the scene around him. The day was warm and
the sun beat lightly on his face. The wind stirred
the long sheaths of grain in the fields beside him.
He plucked a few and rubbed them as he walked,
watching the chaff blow down wind. He praised God that
(02:19):
he was no longer found among the chaff to be burnt.
Despite Paul's blindness to the truth, Jesus had intercepted him
on his way to destruction and offered him a new life.
In response, Paul diligently followed the spirit's lead to bring
the Gospel to the ends of the earth. God had
(02:42):
already led him and his companions on two missionary journeys.
He was now starting his third to Ephesus, a city
hewn through Roman pride, dedicated to commerce, and riddled with
idle worship. The good news of Jesus was bringing many
(03:03):
in the city to salvation, and Paul found it fitting
to encourage the believers in the great metropolis just outside
the city Paul stopped and prepared his heart for the
days ahead. While anonimity was still in his favor. He
wiped the sweat from his brow and lifted up his
(03:24):
eyes to the radiant blue skies. He muttered a prayer.
When he prayed, Paul felt as though he was standing
in the throne room of God. He basked in the
closeness he and all believers could experience with Jesus through
his spirit. Unbeknownst to Paul, there was some one watching
(03:45):
him from a distance. A man was hunkered down behind
the wall of a house. His grizzled hair was enshrouded
in a hood. He peered around the corner just enough
to see Paul, who was deeply consumed in his prayers.
Upon seeing the apostle, the man spat on the ground
(04:07):
and hissed. He turned on his heel and whisked away
through a darkened out like a wraith.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Let's ask ourselves a haunting question. Do the forces of
darkness even know who you are? Do they consider you
a threat and a warrior for Christ's cause? Or have
you been so ineffectual that they've paid little attention to you.
Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We spent the last couple
of weeks exploring stories about demons. The month of October
(04:39):
is often spent celebrating darkness, but we, as believers, know better.
Scripture reveals the intensity of demons, but more importantly, it
showcases the power of Christ. Today we're diving into a
riveting and somewhat comical episode from the Book of Acts,
specifically Acts Chapter nineteen versus A eleven through twenty two.
(05:01):
It's a story that involves miracles, impostors, a good old
fashioned beat down, and a valuable lesson about the power
of authentic faith.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Once inside the city, Paul made his way to the
home of one of the believers. There, a group of
about twelve other disciples gathered to greet him. They received
him with joy and invited him inside. Paul was glad
to accept the invitation. He loved the chance to travel
and see how God was building his church in new
(05:35):
and exciting places. However, as his age slowly crept up
in years, Paul found his body struggling to keep up.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I must thank you for your hospitality. It is a
pleasure to be with you all.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh, no, the pleasure is all ours. We have eagerly
awaited your arrival.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
The Ephesian man let out a hearty laugh. He was
like a child overjoyed to see their parents come home
after being away. There wasn't a single believer who didn't
know of Paul's faithfulness and selfless labor to build the
Kingdom of God. Paul felt like the man's energy was
being shared with him, invigorating him once more for the
(06:19):
work ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
You're too kind, but I would be happy to help
out in any way I can. Let's begin with this. Then,
when the people in Ephesus came to believe in Jesus
as the Christ, did you receive the Holy Spirit?
Speaker 1 (06:34):
The Ephesian man looked at Paul confused. He scratched his
head like Paul was speaking a different language.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Eh No, to be honest, we haven't even heard of
a holy spirit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Surely you were baptized when you believed, Yes, of course.
And what baptism did you receive at the time.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
The Ephesian man paused before answering, wondering if he was
setting himself up for embarrassment.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
The only baptism we know of John's baptism.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Well, that just won't do you. See, John's baptism was
a baptism of repentance, turning away from sin to behold
the one who came after him, Jesus. Since the Christ
has come, you must be baptized by His Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
The men in the house begged Paul to baptize them
with the Spirit. The apostle was delighted to fulfill their request.
He rose from his chair and asked the men to
gather around him. Standing in a circle, Paul placed his
hands on them and prayed to God. The men listened
(07:44):
closely to Paul's words and felt an indescribable sensation of
peace and awe wash over them. The Spirit was filling
their hearts, taking the embers of their faith and fanning
them into an unstoppable flame. The men began to speak
(08:05):
in tongues and prophesied. They stared at one another in amazement,
then turn towards the Apostle.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Oh, how can we ever thank you?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Your gratitude belongs to the Lord. My encouragement to you
is to always remember the Spirit's job. He is here
to lead you into all truth and to make much
of the name of Jesus. The road ahead is narrow,
but leads to life more abundant, and as you live
as witnesses of Jesus. You will face trials, but take heart,
(08:40):
the Spirit will guard your hearts against the evils of
this world. Through him you shall do incredible works in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
The twelve men were silent. They could hardly envision what
life with the Holy Spirit could bring, but they would
come to learn. For the next two years, Paul taught
the people of Ephesus, defending the Gospel with persuasive arguments.
During this time, all of the Jews and Greeks who
(09:10):
lived in the province of Asia had heard the word
of the Lord. One of the chief priests of Ephesus
was a man named Skeva. He had toiled for many years,
abiding by both God's Holy Law and Jewish traditions. He
was an honest man and diligently strove to honor God
(09:31):
over the years. The Lord had blessed the man with
seven sons, who Scheva hoped would follow in his footsteps
in service to the Lord. However, as word of Paul's
magnificent works spread throughout Ephesus, the seven sons wanted to
join him on his road to notoriety. They were not
followers of Jesus or had ties to the people of
(09:54):
the way. They only had a dim understanding of what
they heard Paul could do. One day, the brothers decided
to put their plans into action. They had surmised that
the extent of the apostle's power came from the name
of Jesus he invoked when healing and casting our evil spirits.
(10:16):
They assumed that if they called upon the same name,
they would be in control of the same power.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
You know, brothers, I've been thinking, if we want to
be known as great men, we have to do something
truly noteworthy, something to give the people what they're looking for.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
And what exactly did you have in mind.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I've heard stories of a crazed man who lives at
the edge of the city. Supposedly he's had an evil
spirit for years. If we can rid the man of
the spirit, surely the people would not be able to
deny our power.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
The other brother seemed pleased with the idea. Though the
thought of facing a man possessed by any evil spirit
was daunting, the allure of fame was much more intense.
The seven young men bounded out the door. As they
neared the city borders of Ephesus. They asked around to
see if any one had any insights on where they
(11:15):
could find the possessed man. After hours of inquiring, they
nearly gave up before an old woman beckoned them from
a small window. She had lived in this part of
the city for decades and assured the men she knew
who they were looking for. Her long, spindily finger pointed
(11:36):
down the street towards a decrepit building. The men shivered,
but reminded themselves of what lay on the other side
of their success. They slowly made their way to the
unkempt home. The older brother stepped up to the front door.
He knocked lightly, no answer. He knocked louder. Within the
(11:59):
brothers could hear someone scuffling around.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
If he won't let us in, we'll just have to
do it ourselves.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
The brother rammed his shoulder into the door. It burst
open with a bang. As the dust settled, the brothers
trickled into the dark house. Only a few paces in,
they saw a shadow move in the corner of the room,
but before they could focus their eyes, a hooded man
jumped out from the corner. His eyes were ashen and
(12:31):
the skin on his face was calloused from years of abuse,
he shouted at the suns.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Ah, what are you doing here? We have no business
with you.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
In an instant, their confidence was gone. Terrified, the oldest
brother wrapped his arms around the others and began to speak.
His voice trembled.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
We're here to stop you, and how do you plan
to do that?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
The demon's laughter revealed his sharp, decaying teeth. The young
man fought to compose his thoughts. His mind danced between
the names Jesus and Paul. To him, Jesus was of
no significance. Yet if the Great Paul used his name
to perform miracles, he figured he needed to as well.
(13:21):
For better Yet, he thought to himself, perhaps he could
use both.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
In the name of Jesus, who Paul preaches, I command
you come out.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
He tried to sound bold, but he knew the words
fell short. The demon didn't move, Wondering if there was
more to the young man's plan, his lips curled into
a devilish smile. He cackled at the man, who now
felt like nothing more than a little boy out of
his league.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Ha ha ha ha, yes.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yes Jesus here, I know, we all know.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Jesus.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
The son of the Living God.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
And this oh speaker. We know about him, this will
I've tried to avoid him since I saw him at
my city.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I know their names.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
What who are you? The sons of Skeeva remained frozen
in fear. Before they could respond, the demon sprang forward.
Even outnumbered, the supernatural strength of the demon was no
match for the brothers. In mere minutes, the evil spirit
had thrashed through their clothes and marred their body with wounds. Eventually,
(14:50):
the brothers were able to escape, and soon the entirety
of Ephesus had heard the news of the brother's near
death experience. All throughout the province of Asia, testimonies of
Jesus power were being spread, and the tale of the
Seven Sons of Skiva only bolstered their confidence in Paul's teaching,
(15:12):
as none could deny he was empowered by the spirit
of Jesus. Paul would continue to minister to the people
of Ephesus for some time before returning to Jerusalem, always
following the spirit as he went.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
The Apostle Paul is in Ephesus, a city buzzing with
spiritual activity and a fondness for magic and the occult
God is doing extraordinary miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and
aprons that touched him were healing the sick and casting
out demons. Talk about a powerful laundry day. Now among
the onlookers are seven sons of Siva, a Jewish high priest.
(15:57):
Now these guys are like spiritual opportunists. They see Paul's
success and think, hey, we can do that too, So
they start going around attempting to exercise demons by declaring,
in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I
command you to come out. Notice anything off here? They say,
the Jesus whom Paul preaches, not our Lord Jesus. They're
(16:21):
name dropping Jesus like he's a celebrity they saw on TV,
not someone they have a relationship with. One day, they
encounter a demon possessed man. They recite their usual line,
and the demon responds, Jesus I know and Paul I
know about, but who are you? Uh oh? Imagine the scene.
(16:41):
The demon basically says, I recognize Jesus and I've heard
of Paul, but you're nobody. Then the possessed man leaps
on them, overpowers all seven, and sends them running out
of the house naked and wounded. That's right. They got
beaten so badly they lost their clothes and their digni.
The sons of Siva tried to wield the name of
(17:03):
Jesus like a magic spell without knowing him personally. Faith
isn't a formula, it's a relationship. You can't live off
someone else's faith. Borrowed beliefs will leave you spiritually bankrupt.
The demon knew Jesus and was aware of Paul because
of their authentic spiritual authority. When you're genuinely connected to Christ,
(17:25):
even the forces of darkness take notice, but counterfeit. Faith
doesn't fool anyone, not God, not Satan, and not the world.
These men were the sons of a high priest, yet
they lacked true faith. Their story warns us about the
dangers of religious hypocrisy. Wearing a title or following rituals
(17:47):
doesn't substitute for a real relationship with God. We can't
control or manipulate God's power for our own agendas. The
miracles performed through Paul were because God chose to work
through him. A humble servant attempts to harness divine power
for personal gain or spectacle are doomed to fail. Now
(18:08):
this event became the talk of the town. Fear fell
upon the people, and the name of Jesus was held
in high honor. Many believers confess their sins openly. Those
who practice sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.
The value of these scrolls was fifty thousand pieces of silver,
a small fortune. This mass repentance showed that the people realized,
(18:31):
you can't mix Jesus with other spiritual practices. It's not
Jesus plus magic or Jesus plus anything. It's Jesus alone.
Do you know Jesus personally or are you relying on
someone else's faith. Maybe it's your parents, your spouse's, or
even your pastor's faith that you've been coasting on. It's
(18:54):
time to establish your own relationship with him. The world
can spot a fake a mile away. More importantly, so
can the spiritual realm. Live authentically and let your faith
be genuine. We live in a culture that often treats
sacred things casually. Let's approach God with the reverence he deserves,
(19:15):
not as a means to our own ends. Just as
the Ephesians burn their scrolls, perhaps there are things in
our lives we need to eliminate habits, objects, or relationships
that can hinder our walk with God. The tale of
the Sons of Siva is a humorous yet sobering reminder
that there are no shortcuts in the spiritual journey. Authority
(19:38):
in Jesus's name comes from relationship, not repetition. Let's not
be like those seven hapless brothers who got the beating
of a lifetime because they tried to imitate a power
they didn't possess. Instead, let's commit to knowing Jesus deeply
and authentically. In doing so, will not only avoid the
(19:58):
pitfalls of counterfe but also experienced the true power and
transformation that comes from walking closely with Him.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do
that the Father may be glorified in the Son John
fourteen thirteen. Lord Jesus, we thank you for your promise
in John fourteen thirteen. Then whatever we ask in your name,
you will do so that the Father may be glorified.
(00:22):
We stand in awe of this gift, knowing that you
are our mediator and advocate. Lord. Ignite our hearts with
faith to believe in the power of your name. Help
us to align our desires with your will, seeking your
glory above all else. Strengthen us to pray boldly, trusting
(00:49):
that you hear and answer us. May our prayers reflect
your heart, bringing transformation, healing, and hope to a world
in need. Use us, Lord, to reveal your love and power,
that your name may be glorified in every word we
(01:12):
speak and every prayer we lift up. Then your mighty name. Amen,
Thank you for praying with me today. This is the
Jesus Podcast. Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination
and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus
(01:35):
encounters with and power over demons. Does this podcast given
you hope? We'd love it if you rated reviewed, and
shared it with a friend, thanks for making the mission possible.
Paul walked through the sloping hills leading to Ephesus. He
(01:56):
prayed for the brethren in the city as he took
in the scene around him. The day was warm and
the sun beat lightly on his face. The wind stirred
the long sheaths of grain in the fields beside him.
He plucked a few and rubbed them as he walked,
watching the chaff blow down wind. He praised God that
(02:19):
he was no longer found among the chaff to be burnt.
Despite Paul's blindness to the truth, Jesus had intercepted him
on his way to destruction and offered him a new life.
In response, Paul diligently followed the spirit's lead to bring
the Gospel to the ends of the earth. God had
(02:42):
already led him and his companions on two missionary journeys.
He was now starting his third to Ephesus, a city
hewn through Roman pride, dedicated to commerce, and riddled with
idle worship. The good news of Jesus was bringing many
(03:03):
in the city to salvation, and Paul found it fitting
to encourage the believers in the great metropolis just outside
the city Paul stopped and prepared his heart for the
days ahead. While anonimity was still in his favor. He
wiped the sweat from his brow and lifted up his
(03:24):
eyes to the radiant blue skies. He muttered a prayer.
When he prayed, Paul felt as though he was standing
in the throne room of God. He basked in the
closeness he and all believers could experience with Jesus through
his spirit. Unbeknownst to Paul, there was some one watching
(03:45):
him from a distance. A man was hunkered down behind
the wall of a house. His grizzled hair was enshrouded
in a hood. He peered around the corner just enough
to see Paul, who was deeply consumed in his prayers.
Upon seeing the apostle, the man spat on the ground
(04:07):
and hissed. He turned on his heel and whisked away
through a darkened out like a wraith.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Let's ask ourselves a haunting question. Do the forces of
darkness even know who you are? Do they consider you
a threat and a warrior for Christ's cause? Or have
you been so ineffectual that they've paid little attention to you.
Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We spent the last couple
of weeks exploring stories about demons. The month of October
(04:39):
is often spent celebrating darkness, but we, as believers, know better.
Scripture reveals the intensity of demons, but more importantly, it
showcases the power of Christ. Today we're diving into a
riveting and somewhat comical episode from the Book of Acts,
specifically Acts Chapter nineteen versus A eleven through twenty two.
(05:01):
It's a story that involves miracles, impostors, a good old
fashioned beat down, and a valuable lesson about the power
of authentic faith.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Once inside the city, Paul made his way to the
home of one of the believers. There, a group of
about twelve other disciples gathered to greet him. They received
him with joy and invited him inside. Paul was glad
to accept the invitation. He loved the chance to travel
and see how God was building his church in new
(05:35):
and exciting places. However, as his age slowly crept up
in years, Paul found his body struggling to keep up.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I must thank you for your hospitality. It is a
pleasure to be with you all.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh, no, the pleasure is all ours. We have eagerly
awaited your arrival.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
The Ephesian man let out a hearty laugh. He was
like a child overjoyed to see their parents come home
after being away. There wasn't a single believer who didn't
know of Paul's faithfulness and selfless labor to build the
Kingdom of God. Paul felt like the man's energy was
being shared with him, invigorating him once more for the
(06:19):
work ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
You're too kind, but I would be happy to help
out in any way I can. Let's begin with this. Then,
when the people in Ephesus came to believe in Jesus
as the Christ, did you receive the Holy Spirit?
Speaker 1 (06:34):
The Ephesian man looked at Paul confused. He scratched his
head like Paul was speaking a different language.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Eh No, to be honest, we haven't even heard of
a holy spirit.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Surely you were baptized when you believed, Yes, of course.
And what baptism did you receive at the time.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
The Ephesian man paused before answering, wondering if he was
setting himself up for embarrassment.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
The only baptism we know of John's baptism.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Well, that just won't do you. See, John's baptism was
a baptism of repentance, turning away from sin to behold
the one who came after him, Jesus. Since the Christ
has come, you must be baptized by His Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
The men in the house begged Paul to baptize them
with the Spirit. The apostle was delighted to fulfill their request.
He rose from his chair and asked the men to
gather around him. Standing in a circle, Paul placed his
hands on them and prayed to God. The men listened
(07:44):
closely to Paul's words and felt an indescribable sensation of
peace and awe wash over them. The Spirit was filling
their hearts, taking the embers of their faith and fanning
them into an unstoppable flame. The men began to speak
(08:05):
in tongues and prophesied. They stared at one another in amazement,
then turn towards the Apostle.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Oh, how can we ever thank you?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Your gratitude belongs to the Lord. My encouragement to you
is to always remember the Spirit's job. He is here
to lead you into all truth and to make much
of the name of Jesus. The road ahead is narrow,
but leads to life more abundant, and as you live
as witnesses of Jesus. You will face trials, but take heart,
(08:40):
the Spirit will guard your hearts against the evils of
this world. Through him you shall do incredible works in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
The twelve men were silent. They could hardly envision what
life with the Holy Spirit could bring, but they would
come to learn. For the next two years, Paul taught
the people of Ephesus, defending the Gospel with persuasive arguments.
During this time, all of the Jews and Greeks who
(09:10):
lived in the province of Asia had heard the word
of the Lord. One of the chief priests of Ephesus
was a man named Skeva. He had toiled for many years,
abiding by both God's Holy Law and Jewish traditions. He
was an honest man and diligently strove to honor God
(09:31):
over the years. The Lord had blessed the man with
seven sons, who Scheva hoped would follow in his footsteps
in service to the Lord. However, as word of Paul's
magnificent works spread throughout Ephesus, the seven sons wanted to
join him on his road to notoriety. They were not
followers of Jesus or had ties to the people of
(09:54):
the way. They only had a dim understanding of what
they heard Paul could do. One day, the brothers decided
to put their plans into action. They had surmised that
the extent of the apostle's power came from the name
of Jesus he invoked when healing and casting our evil spirits.
(10:16):
They assumed that if they called upon the same name,
they would be in control of the same power.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
You know, brothers, I've been thinking, if we want to
be known as great men, we have to do something
truly noteworthy, something to give the people what they're looking for.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
And what exactly did you have in mind.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
I've heard stories of a crazed man who lives at
the edge of the city. Supposedly he's had an evil
spirit for years. If we can rid the man of
the spirit, surely the people would not be able to
deny our power.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
The other brother seemed pleased with the idea. Though the
thought of facing a man possessed by any evil spirit
was daunting, the allure of fame was much more intense.
The seven young men bounded out the door. As they
neared the city borders of Ephesus. They asked around to
see if any one had any insights on where they
(11:15):
could find the possessed man. After hours of inquiring, they
nearly gave up before an old woman beckoned them from
a small window. She had lived in this part of
the city for decades and assured the men she knew
who they were looking for. Her long, spindily finger pointed
(11:36):
down the street towards a decrepit building. The men shivered,
but reminded themselves of what lay on the other side
of their success. They slowly made their way to the
unkempt home. The older brother stepped up to the front door.
He knocked lightly, no answer. He knocked louder. Within the
(11:59):
brothers could hear someone scuffling around.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
If he won't let us in, we'll just have to
do it ourselves.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
The brother rammed his shoulder into the door. It burst
open with a bang. As the dust settled, the brothers
trickled into the dark house. Only a few paces in,
they saw a shadow move in the corner of the room,
but before they could focus their eyes, a hooded man
jumped out from the corner. His eyes were ashen and
(12:31):
the skin on his face was calloused from years of abuse,
he shouted at the suns.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Ah, what are you doing here? We have no business
with you.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
In an instant, their confidence was gone. Terrified, the oldest
brother wrapped his arms around the others and began to speak.
His voice trembled.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
We're here to stop you, and how do you plan
to do that?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
The demon's laughter revealed his sharp, decaying teeth. The young
man fought to compose his thoughts. His mind danced between
the names Jesus and Paul. To him, Jesus was of
no significance. Yet if the Great Paul used his name
to perform miracles, he figured he needed to as well.
(13:21):
For better Yet, he thought to himself, perhaps he could
use both.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
In the name of Jesus, who Paul preaches, I command
you come out.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
He tried to sound bold, but he knew the words
fell short. The demon didn't move, Wondering if there was
more to the young man's plan, his lips curled into
a devilish smile. He cackled at the man, who now
felt like nothing more than a little boy out of
his league.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Ha ha ha ha, yes.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yes Jesus here, I know, we all know.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Jesus.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
The son of the Living God.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
And this oh speaker. We know about him, this will
I've tried to avoid him since I saw him at
my city.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
I know their names.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
What who are you? The sons of Skeeva remained frozen
in fear. Before they could respond, the demon sprang forward.
Even outnumbered, the supernatural strength of the demon was no
match for the brothers. In mere minutes, the evil spirit
had thrashed through their clothes and marred their body with wounds. Eventually,
(14:50):
the brothers were able to escape, and soon the entirety
of Ephesus had heard the news of the brother's near
death experience. All throughout the province of Asia, testimonies of
Jesus power were being spread, and the tale of the
Seven Sons of Skiva only bolstered their confidence in Paul's teaching,
(15:12):
as none could deny he was empowered by the spirit
of Jesus. Paul would continue to minister to the people
of Ephesus for some time before returning to Jerusalem, always
following the spirit as he went.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
The Apostle Paul is in Ephesus, a city buzzing with
spiritual activity and a fondness for magic and the occult
God is doing extraordinary miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and
aprons that touched him were healing the sick and casting
out demons. Talk about a powerful laundry day. Now among
the onlookers are seven sons of Siva, a Jewish high priest.
(15:57):
Now these guys are like spiritual opportunists. They see Paul's
success and think, hey, we can do that too, So
they start going around attempting to exercise demons by declaring,
in the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I
command you to come out. Notice anything off here? They say,
the Jesus whom Paul preaches, not our Lord Jesus. They're
(16:21):
name dropping Jesus like he's a celebrity they saw on TV,
not someone they have a relationship with. One day, they
encounter a demon possessed man. They recite their usual line,
and the demon responds, Jesus I know and Paul I
know about, but who are you? Uh oh? Imagine the scene.
(16:41):
The demon basically says, I recognize Jesus and I've heard
of Paul, but you're nobody. Then the possessed man leaps
on them, overpowers all seven, and sends them running out
of the house naked and wounded. That's right. They got
beaten so badly they lost their clothes and their digni.
The sons of Siva tried to wield the name of
(17:03):
Jesus like a magic spell without knowing him personally. Faith
isn't a formula, it's a relationship. You can't live off
someone else's faith. Borrowed beliefs will leave you spiritually bankrupt.
The demon knew Jesus and was aware of Paul because
of their authentic spiritual authority. When you're genuinely connected to Christ,
(17:25):
even the forces of darkness take notice, but counterfeit. Faith
doesn't fool anyone, not God, not Satan, and not the world.
These men were the sons of a high priest, yet
they lacked true faith. Their story warns us about the
dangers of religious hypocrisy. Wearing a title or following rituals
(17:47):
doesn't substitute for a real relationship with God. We can't
control or manipulate God's power for our own agendas. The
miracles performed through Paul were because God chose to work
through him. A humble servant attempts to harness divine power
for personal gain or spectacle are doomed to fail. Now
(18:08):
this event became the talk of the town. Fear fell
upon the people, and the name of Jesus was held
in high honor. Many believers confess their sins openly. Those
who practice sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.
The value of these scrolls was fifty thousand pieces of silver,
a small fortune. This mass repentance showed that the people realized,
(18:31):
you can't mix Jesus with other spiritual practices. It's not
Jesus plus magic or Jesus plus anything. It's Jesus alone.
Do you know Jesus personally or are you relying on
someone else's faith. Maybe it's your parents, your spouse's, or
even your pastor's faith that you've been coasting on. It's
(18:54):
time to establish your own relationship with him. The world
can spot a fake a mile away. More importantly, so
can the spiritual realm. Live authentically and let your faith
be genuine. We live in a culture that often treats
sacred things casually. Let's approach God with the reverence he deserves,
(19:15):
not as a means to our own ends. Just as
the Ephesians burn their scrolls, perhaps there are things in
our lives we need to eliminate habits, objects, or relationships
that can hinder our walk with God. The tale of
the Sons of Siva is a humorous yet sobering reminder
that there are no shortcuts in the spiritual journey. Authority
(19:38):
in Jesus's name comes from relationship, not repetition. Let's not
be like those seven hapless brothers who got the beating
of a lifetime because they tried to imitate a power
they didn't possess. Instead, let's commit to knowing Jesus deeply
and authentically. In doing so, will not only avoid the
(19:58):
pitfalls of counterfe but also experienced the true power and
transformation that comes from walking closely with Him.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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