Do the demons know you?

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Is there a Most Wanted poster with your picture on it at the Gates of Hell? Has Satan assigned an army of angels to torment you; is there a spiritual war raging inside your head? Do the demons know you by name, or have they even heard of you? Comfortable Christianity will likely allow you to meet them at a later date. Your life should be so zealous for Christ that it is a constant pain in Satan’s side. You should possess the evidence of Christ, the power of Christ, and the security of Christ that threatens him. That light inside of you should be so bright it dis-spells the kingdom of darkness. It is of a place of honor to see those spiritual wars that rage; it is a place of honor when things in life get rough; it is a place of honor when all that God designs or allows in your life points you to the evidence of your need for him alone. The trials, these temptations, these pains that you endure, all are there to draw you closer. When you draw closer, and the world expects you to fall away in your faith, you become a witness for the power of God in your life. Your life becomes your testimony, and your testimony is to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul had been baptizing in the name of Christ, and anointing with the Holy Spirit in Ephesus and all of Asia. He had baptized 12 disciples, and spent two years with them in Tyrannus teaching, witnessing, and performing miracles in the name of Christ. The news of Christ, and the power of Christ, began to raise “copycats”. The Jewish so called magicians were claiming the name of Christ in their magic acts. With the seven sons of Sceva, it backfired, and the demon drove out the exorcist. Acts 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. The demon was not threatened by those he knew were not Christians; he was not threatened by those claiming the power, without living the life. The demon called them out, and drove them out, naked and embarrassed.

So much of my life, I thought, and somewhat claimed to be a Christian. I thought that if I believed in Christ, that was all I had to do. I had lived my life in sin, but could somehow justify my sinful lifestyle in my own mind. I could have the pleasure of sin for a season, or even sin repeatedly as long as I repented, and still remain ok on God’s scales of life. Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. Paul states it very clearly there, we are not to continue in lifestyles of sin when we claim Christ. We are not to rest on Grace, and live in sin. We are to let God work out sanctification in us, and through us, fleeing the sins he reveals to us. We are to live as Paul says, 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.