(Continuing from Last Week)
This lesson on demonic powers is also taught in Acts 19:13-16 in the story of the seven sons of Seven. These itinerant vagabond Jewish exorcists were going about seeking to make money with the names of Jesus and Paul like some of today’s “great men of God” Even at that, they professed to cure diseases by charms and spells. The Jewish historian Josephus, writing of Solomon’s supposed skill against demons and of the use of exorcism adds: “This kind of cure is of great power among us to this day” (Antiquities viii 2,5 (46) Loeb edition, vol. 5,p.595). From a very early date, the traditional literature of the Jews ascribed great results to the utterance of the incommunicable name of Deity. They claimed that it was with this that Moses slew the Egyptians, and that Elisha brought destruction upon mocking children “by the name of Jehovah” It is easy to understand that these “vagabond Jews” having seen the results of Paul’s use of the name of Jesus, would attempt to effect healing with the same name. They adopted for their exorcisms the form of words saying “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth” And standing face to face with a demonic as frenzied and strong as he who met the Lord at Gadara (see Mark 5:3,4 cf Matt.8:28). The demon within the man violently answered back: “Jesus I know” Greek “ton Iesoun ginosko” meaning “Jesus I recognize” (Ginosko here implies not only personal knowledge, but recognition of authority.) “Paul I know” Gr. “ton Paulon epistamai” meaning “I am acquainted with Paul” (“Epistamai” implies a familiar acquaintance, or knowledge of a fact.)”Who are ye?” literally, “but who are you”. The possessed man thus identified himself with the demon inside of him. He stood in awe at the name of Jesus when spoken by a man like Paul, but this time, he was not awed by these pretenders “He leaped on them and overcame them” Demonic possession gave to its victim a more than usual or normal power and strength. The impostors fled in dismay before the man’s demonic rage. Indeed, there are other powers, but all of them without any exception are subject to the power of Almighty God – the Father, the Son, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Ghost – the executor of God’s divine will. The “great men of God, priests, pastors, bishops, evangelists” who make use of this diabolical second counterfeit power, must remember that the “Day of Judgment” the “Day of Reckoning” is fast approaching – when there will be no more opportunity for any change – repentance and sin.
Finally, our Lord comes to the climax of
this teaching and says, these people will be able to say to Him that in His name they have done ‘many wonderful works’ – works of power, miracles, amazing things, almost incredible things, and yet they are outside the kingdom. Let us look for the proof that this is possible. Our Lord says in Matt. 24:24 “For there shall rise false christs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much that, it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”.
Elect (Greek “ekelektos” meaning, “picket out” or “chosen” To avoid creating the wrong impression, that these false christs, false prophets and the devils could deceive a true child of God, this passage will be considered in the proper perspective. The implication here is that these signs and wonders could almost, not entirely convince the elect or deceive the elect. But this probability is not applicable to the non-elect, the unregenerate, the unbeliever.
The elect – the faithful ones have obeyed God and are therefore able to distinguish between the true and the false. The form of the sentence in the Greek implies that it is actually impossible for Satan to deceive those who love and serve God with sincerity.
It must be recognized that there are many with weak faith in the church whose standing in the things of Christ is still weak and therefore can be blown about by every manner of doctrine – true and false, including seducing spirit and the doctrine of the devil. All are under the spiritual superintendence and influence of the false prophets, false christs, false pastors, false priests etc., hence Christ’s word on this. Apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2:8,9 puts it this way, “And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of the Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” These things have been prophesied. In other words a man may be able to point to great results such as healing and so on, and yet they may signify nothing.
We are learning more and more these day about the powers that are innate in man, even in the natural sense. There is such thing as natural gift of healing; there is a kind of natural, almost magical power in certain people. For instance, the whole question of electricity in the human frame is very interesting. There are water- diviners who posses certain curious gifts. Then there is the whole question of telepathy, transferring of thought and extra-sensory perception. These things or the scientific explanations of them, are just
coming into our general ken. As the result of such gifts and powers many can do marvelous and wondrous things, and yet not be Christians. The natural power of man can stimulate the gifts of the Holy Spirit, up to a point. And of course we are reminded by Scripture that God, in His own inscrutable will, sometimes decides to give these powers to men who do not belong to Him in order, to bring .to pass His own purpose. He raises up men for His own particular purpose, but such themselves remain outside His kingdom. It was God who called and used the pagan king Cyrus.
Above all, we must remember the power of the devil. The devil, as Paul teaches in II Cor. 11:14, can transform himself even into an “angel of light”, and this devil pretending to be “an angel of light” sometimes persuades people that they are Christians when they are not. If the devil can keep a man outside the kingdom of God by making him say “Lord, Lord” he will certainly make him do so. The devil will do anything to keep a man outside the kingdom, so if a false belief or true belief held in a wrong way will do this, he will make him have it, and he will give him power to work signs and wonders.
These things have been prophesied, we should not be misled by them. One must make certain of oneself. It is one’s heart that matters. Is one’s name written in heaven? Does the one belong to Christ? Has the one the holiness and righteousness being taught by the Lord here?. The way to test oneself or any man is to look below the surface, and, not at the apparent result of the wonders and marvels, but to discover whether he conforms to the Beatitudes – is he poor in spirit; is he meek; is he humble; does he groan in spirit as he see the world; is he truly a holy man of God; does he say with Paul ‘We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened?’
Let the reader of these lines remember that, it is the Lord who says these things, and, He will judge. The words: “Many will say to me in that day…” refer to the Day of Judgment. The NT Christian is a definite type of character; he is unmistakable. He is the one most expected “to do the will of my Father in heaven”
May God grant us honesty as we face this terrifying truth, this truth we shall have to answer when “all earthly scense have passed away”. And we stand before Christ and face Him. If you feel you are condemned, confess it to God now that there is still opportunity for repentance; hunger and thirst after righteousness, turn believingly to the Lord Jesus Christ, ask him to give it to you, cost, it what it may, whatever its effects and results, and He will give it to you, for He has said: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” only these will give true peace on earth and the bliss of eternal life.
“The end”
