IN WHOSE NAME?

The only spiritual ranking or mark a Christian needs to disrupt the works of the kingdom of darkness is the person and name, JESUS.

Years ago, I heard a preacher use Acts chapter 19, verses 11 to 20, to discuss spiritual ranking when dealing with demonic powers. Per his teaching, Christians have no right to confront a demon if they haven't attained some level of maturity in the faith because the demon could overpower them, which sometimes could lead to their death if care isn't taken. He added that this was the reason for the particular office of the pastor, teacher, Apostle, Evangelist, and Prophet. Even with the offices, he stated that certain offices could only venture into the deliverance ministry if they had empowered themselves enough to deal with such issues.

Truth be told, that message was the beginning of my fear of the deliverance ministry. If we are in a church or a Christian gathering and I see a person begin to manifest, I will distance myself with the excuse that I wasn't at the right level to handle such issues. I didn't need to know the age of the demon manifesting through that person; per what I have heard, no demon came into being the very day I was born to be my agemate. I will quickly find a new space and continue with the excellent work of listening to whatever the man of God was preaching or continuing the prayer session in "peace." It even became so intense that I didn't even want to pray for anybody because I didn't want to touch the "best friend" of a demon mistakenly. (For some, this may sound funny or silly; for others, I am speaking about your problem.)

Let's dramatise the book of Acts, chapter 19, verses 11 to 20. Apostle Paul found his way to Ephesus, and, by God's mercies, he could teach the Word of God with signs and wonders in two years. While signs and wonders were becoming the norm among these groups of Christians, some ignorant people decided to use the fame to cast out demons from those afflicted. Now, the Bible makes it very clear that those who had this unfortunate encounter were sons of a man called Sceva, who was a Jewish priest. If they were followers of Paul or members of the faith, the Bible would have stated that for a better context. But the fact that it wasn't stated means that they weren't Christians. In other words, they hadn't accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour; they only knew the person Jesus based on what was happening around the followers of the Apostle Paul. They didn't know Jesus based on any revelation. They had, in one way or another, heard Apostle Paul passionately preaching about Jesus and going ahead after those preaching to command out evil spirits and heal those at the service with the same name of Jesus.

Acts 19:13, 15 (NKJV)

[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."

[15] And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; BUT WHO ARE YOU?"

The evil spirit said nothing about the spiritual ranking of Apostle Paul in that utterance. All it said was, "Jesus, I know, and Paul, I know, but WHO ARE YOU?" It didn't ask them of their ranks. He didn't ask if they were colonels, generals, lieutenants or WOs in the kingdom of God. It only wanted to know their IDENTITY. In other words, which family or kingdom did they belong to in the spiritual realm? Were they of the kingdom of light or darkness? What gave them the audacity and impetus to sack them from their host? It had nothing to do with ranks. They were motivated to cast out this demon because they had seen how the followers of Paul could also preach the gospel of Jesus, healing and casting out demons with the name of Jesus without Paul. If ordinary followers could do it, why couldn't they do likewise since they were the sons of a priest?

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV)

[15] And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

[16] He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

[17] And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

[18] they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

I know you are conversant with the above scripture, but I want to inform you that you need to read it correctly. My failure to get this truth into my heart made it easy for that pastor's message to make me magnify demons instead of my identity in Jesus Christ. Jesus asked His followers to go into the world to preach the gospel of His saving grace to all people and stated that the person or people who believe and are baptised would be saved. Jesus adds that the way to notice the person or people who have believed in Him is by a few simple signs:

1. In Jesus' name, they will cast out demons.

2. In Jesus' name, they will speak with new tongues.

3. In Jesus' name, they will take up serpents.

4. In Jesus' name, if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them.

5. In Jesus' name, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, if we are to go by the order of the list, many of us have jumped in the order and have ignored the most crucial key to the success of all these signs- the name of Jesus. We happily speak in new tongues, and the courageous few go out to lay hands on the sick so they can recover. But I want us to go by the order listed by our Lord and Master Jesus. In the order of things, the day a man or woman accepts the life of Christ and has been made aware of the power the name of Jesus carries, demons shouldn't find comfort in their presence. At the very juncture, if they should notice a demonic activity, they have all the backing and authority in the name of Jesus to frustrate that demon and get instant results. Brothers and sisters, I didn't say after speaking in tongues for six or thirty hours; I mean that very moment, because of their new identity as a child of the God of all creation, they have all the empowerment to cast out that demon. Do you remember what David said to the giant, Goliath?

1 Samuel 17:45 (NKJV)

[45] Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Even David, under the covenant of the blood of bulls and goats, knew the secret to every battle between a Christian and the agents of darkness. He didn't go before that giant who had years of experience in the name of his numerous fasting, long hours of prayers, series of worship and praise sessions, giving, etc. He went before that thing, calling itself a giant and well-trained warrior in the name of the Lord.

Reading the book of Acts chapter 19, verses 11 to 20, I could trace the victories in the working of signs and wonders by the people of Ephesus based on the understanding that the Apostle Paul brought about their identity in Christ through his epistle. They knew and understood that they were seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name named, not only in this age but also in what is to come. They knew it, and that was their reality daily.

What is the issue that looks like a mountain or a giant before you? Can you take the challenge to boldly step into the place of prayer this week to confront it in the name of our Lord and Master, Jesus?

I can only assure you of victory because that name, JESUS, never failed in the life of any man or woman who has held onto it.

Remain in the blessings of God as you remain in Christ.

MD.