Preschool
The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).
Power in Jesus’s Name
Memory Verses
Primary
The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).
Junior
The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).
Background Scripture: Acts 19
Lesson Scripture: Acts 19:13-20; 3:1-10
Introduction
God wastes nothing and is able to use everything to his honor and glory. In this lesson we are considering the case of the high priest Sceva’s seven sons, who attempted to use the power of Jesus for their own ends. They suffered the consequences of self-promotion; meanwhile, God’s name was magnified, and many turned to Him. In the darkness of our day, we need a renewed vision of the power that Jesus brings into people’s lives and the glory that shines forth from those who call upon his name.
Key Verse
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).
Lesson Scripture
Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Studying the Lesson
Ephesus was a city with a thriving trade in witchcraft and magical arts. There were people who made it their business to cast out demons and spirits by exercising some strange, devilish power. The practice was common enough that Jesus Himself was accused of this. These seven men apparently had a reputation for success in exorcism, although nothing is written about them apart from the account in Acts.
The power of Jesus is not understood by the unconverted mind. Mankind is simply no match for the power of the unseen spiritual forces around us. To trifle with mystical powers like these was more akin to playing with lightning than fire. In this instance, the evil power in one demon was able to overcome seven men easily. God was able to use this event to bring about a mighty renunciation of magic and evil in the city and to turn many hearts to Him.
Practical Truths for Today
The power contained in Jesus’s name is not in verbally pronouncing it or repeating it like some mantra but in the act of believing. A true belief means coming to the point where we surrender our will to Him. The power of Christ is available only to those who submit to his authority. Those who name the name of Christ without forsaking their sins and earnestly endeavoring to follow Him in faith will end up much like the sons of Sceva: wounded, exposed, and on the run.
In the early days of the Christian church, God wrought special miracles through the apostles. God demonstrated his power through Paul so that when articles of clothing that Paul had worn were brought to the sick, they were healed and evil spirits went out of them. Today the power of Jesus comes through a relationship with Him. If we are walking with Jesus, this power will be evident in our lives.
A resistant will creates much complexity, which severely limits the power of Christ in a believer’s life. We need to be sure that the power of God flows in a direct line from Him as the source into our lives. If there are complex areas in our lives, these need to be brought under the authority and examination of Christ so his power can flow through us.
Acts 3 gives an example of a Christian’s humble petition to Jesus for his intervention. Take notice of the following points:
1. They were asking for another’s very real need.
2. The healing brought honor and glory to God.
The result furthered the introduction of God’s kingdom. Sometimes we are tempted to ask wrongly so that we may use the power of God for our own ends or to satisfy our own desires. These may be set on earthly things or our own image and are not controlled by the will of God. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3). Our cry to our Father must always be “Thy will be done” and “Thy kingdom be glorified.” When we view our needs through the lens of eternity, we can rightly judge the petitions that we bring to Him. Jesus has promised that He will do that which we ask in his name. This is as simple as it sounds, but we must have a spiritual mind to prove his will.
The power in Jesus’s name is in the forgiveness of sin. All of man’s troubles began with the fall and are related to the curse of sin and death. When Jesus triumphed over death at Calvary, He won the victory over sin and all of its consequences. Jesus is our answer to any problem we face, and there is nothing we cannot face when our sins are forgiven. The strongest power known to mankind is revealed in being set free from iniquity and the sinful nature that binds us. When our sins are forgiven, any health issue, any financial impairment, or any relationship problem, is a smaller matter when this one thing is settled. We leave Calvary with an entirely new perspective on our problems. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Should the Lord choose to heal us, smooth out our financial snags, or win over our enemies, these are completely eclipsed by the fact that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
God has a whole world in need of instruction and longs to reveal Himself. He uses many different means to speak to others; perhaps He wants to use you. The darkness of our day begs for a renewed vision of the gift that Jesus has given to us. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15); are you a thankful recipient of his grace?
Who is Jesus to you? Is He merely an insurance agent only needed in times of calamity or loss? Maybe He is most useful in finding small items that have been dropped. Or is He your reason for living, the source of power in your life, the head of your home, the Lord of the church? How well would you say you know Him? How much of your life do you communicate to Him? Are you able to bring a petition to Him, truly believing that you will see it accomplished according to his will? Or when your prayer is not immediately answered, do you too quickly assume that it was not God’s will? God is not limited by an earthly sense of time and is free to act outside of it. There is complete safety in Jesus when He is Lord and King. When we are under his authority, we can rest our problems in Him, knowing He holds the answer to every troubling thing we will ever encounter. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10).
Questions
- Are all prayers answered? Why or why not?
- How could we make turning to Jesus our first response instead of a last resort?
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).