Subject: Does Hell Know our Name
by Rick Welborne
Acts 3:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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.
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, 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 from those who entered the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: 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.
--We are asking tough questions and hopefully we are examining ourselves to see where we stand in comparison to the disciples especially John and Peter in this story.
--Do we have what they had, and if our answer is ‘yes’ why can’t we do what they did? From last week, are there hindrances in our lives…lay aside every weight and sin that hinders or ensnares us? Are we?
Acts 19:11-20 (NKJV)
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
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.
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
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.
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
--Today I want us to look at a question that needs to be asked…Does hell know your name?
--Since we are looking at a story that deals with demon possession and attempted exorcism, maybe we should ask the question…who is possessing me? Who am I filled with…self, Satan, or Holy Spirit?
--I just looked at all the verses in the Bible that speak of being filled and I was overwhelmed of all we can be filled with…This sermon does not allow time to deal with all of that.
--It talks about being filled with anger, malice, lust, indignation, jealousy, hate, pride, bitterness. We can also be filled with joy, peace, love, forgiveness, God, and with Holy Spirit.
--The truth is we are all full of something…look at your neighbor and tell them…You are full of it! Our text: “Such as I have” was an implication that Peter and John were filled with Holy Spirit. Paul also.
--Everything about this text says, if we have what they had, demons will know our name…I guess what I am asking today, “Does hell know your name?”
1. Try to imagine your name coming up in hell…imagine the reaction.
--Does hell know your name? What reaction would it be at the annual General Council of Darkness with guest from all over the world sharing reports and giving testimonies.
--They are sharing about this church failing and that pastor having a moral failure and laughter is filling the auditorium and great applause! They are reviewing saints from all over the world and reacting to each one.
--Imagine the Apostle Paul’s name coming up or Peter or John’s names…the booing and hissing because of the power in which they operated…doing damage to their kingdom.
--Can you imagine when Peter denied Christ three times or Judas betraying Christ with a kiss? Hysteria like never seen before erupts with demons going crazy!
--Aren’t you glad that we would never betray Christ with a kiss and we would in no way ever deny Him because of what He has done in our lives. Think about worshipping with known sin in our lives.
Isaiah 29:13-16 (NIV)
13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
15 Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"
16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?
13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
15 Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, "Who sees us? Who will know?"
16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?
--Think about this…every time you come to church and you praise, worship, or shout with known sin in your lives…aren’t we just blowing God a kiss…drawing near with our lips but our hearts far away!
--I heard a preacher say the other day…if you are living in sin you definitely need to be in church worshiping God and lifting up His Name…I am ok with that person being in church but the first stage should be repenting.
Acts 3:18-20 (NKJV)
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…
--Back to the convention…names are coming up in alphabetical order and “Oh My!” they are getting close to your name…Does hell know your name? How do they know your name? In what context:
--Would there be fear at the mention of your name…Do we have “Such as I have?” Stay with me…would there be comments…Church goer but no threat…would there be snickers…did you see him _________?
--Would the demons even recognize you…not doing anything bad but not doing anything good. Luke warm!
--Not witnessing to others, not praying for the sick, not supporting the Great Commission…I hear a demon say,
“basically they are on our team because they are not doing anything for that other Kingdom.”
--Does hell know your name?
2. The chief priests were attempting to cast out demons by the Jesus Whom Paul preaches.
--These seven sons of Sceva were priest…don’t miss this. They were members of the tribe of Levi and responsible for the temple and sacrifices. They were in charge of the church and worship.
--They were the religious and social leaders to the Jewish people…these guys were a big deal. They were elite in the sense that no other tribe could become priest…special.
--These guys answered directly to the High Priest and would be, more than likely, the ones who you would bring your sacrifice to them to be offered.
--They were part of the most important religious leaders in all Israel…basically they were your mediators between you and God…you were too unclean to come directly to God…silly people.
--They had the position, they had the authority, and they had the look…the High Priest and the chief priest were always dressed in the tradition garb that of the priesthood…they demanded respect.
--They had everything a priest could ask for except for a personal relationship with Jesus and the “Such as I have” that Peter, John, and Paul had. Aren’t we supposed to be a royal priesthood?
--We must understand that our title or position may not be what we need we face real life problems…the seven sons of Sceva were trying to accomplish deliverance with no power. Do we have what they had?
--They were clothed in the proper traditional garb but were not clothed in righteousness and power…They looked good but they did come with the goods needed to set the man free. What are we clothed with?
Romans 13:12-14 (NLT)
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
--What we put on will determine what we have. The such as I have…some of us are putting on putting on…we are like these priest…we look good and have a measure of authority but do not have the power.
Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV)
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
--These priest were embarrassed and humiliated because their powerless clothes and lives were not effective in a dangerous situation.
--Paul was saying when you come against the powers of darkness that you better put on the full armor of God and be praying in Holy Spirit.
3. Don’t miss this… God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.
Acts 19:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
--Who worked the unusual miracles…God did! Whose hands did He use…Paul’s.
--Let me back up for a minute and look at how Paul’s Christian life started. He was killing Christians and He runs into the Lord on the Damascus Road…Listen to the instructions given by Ananias.
Acts 9:17-20 (NKJV)
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
--He starts with Jesus and Holy Spirit…He is led by Holy Spirit and is effective in his ministry not because of man’s wisdom but because of Holy Spirit power and demonstration.
--He shows up in Ephesus to a few believers and he asked these believers an important question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed. He is still depending on Holy Spirit power.
--Possible answer to why we cannot do what he did…when he was prayed for by Ananias scales fell off his eyes. Maybe we have allowed the scales to grow back over our eyes…we think we see but we are blind.
--What happens when we have “Such as I have” and when hell knows our name…word gets out and revival comes…people start repenting and getting rid of the junk…burn it!
--I have had people come to me after I dismiss the service…Pastor, I want you to know that I stopped doing this or that…God has dealt with me…I want to have what they had.
Acts 19:17-20 (NKJV)
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
--Does hell know your name?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.