SERIES: The Book of Acts
TEXT: Acts 19:11-20
MESSAGE: “The Reality of Evil and Reverence for Jesus.”
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“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” — Ephesians 5:11

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves (devil + demons) are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” – C.S. Lewis (Screwtape Letters)

Q: How does God overcome evil? It’s when He…(1. Reveals His Power 2. Exposes Secondhand Belief 3. Restores Holy Reverence)

      1. Reveals A Higher Power (v. 11-12)

“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.”

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.” — Ephesians 3:7

      2. Exposes A Secondhand Belief (v. 13-16)

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.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 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 that house naked and wounded.”

      3. Restores A Holy Reverence (v. 17-20)

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. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 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. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”

TAKEAWAYS: How can we grow in our reverence for Jesus?

Check the grip

Examine the belief

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” — Luke 22:31-32

Know the enemy 

“As in all warfare, the two essential elements in victory are knowing your enemy and knowing your resources.” — Sinclair Ferguson

Stand in Jesus

“Satan doesn’t control us with fang marks on the flesh, but with lies in the heart.” – Timothy Keller

GOSPEL: 

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” – 1 John 3:8

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