"...but Who are you?"

“Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” Acts. 19:15

alice and anger and revenge are as mad demoniacs set loose like wild men to tear down the very house in which they have been harbored. After breaking free in a frenzy, they are as likely to cut the householder to ribbons as anyone who should foolishly knock upon their door. Christ is the only Exorcist who can cleanse the temple of a troubled sin-filled heart. Christ is the only one who can face and stand down such evil things whose name is sometimes Legion. Without Christ, the rusty chains of resolution are the only feeble restraints that hold these tempers in check. Like tigers in a cage they merely bide their time until they can break free to rend and tear leaving crying and chaos in their wake.

Even while a demoniac may appear to be resting and stilled, deep within, somewhere near the equator of the soul, a tropical depression is churning and white-capping the waves of a troubled sea. Wise men would do well to change their course and travel home another way rather than risk getting caught in such a growing rage. Woe to those who get caught is such a storm without a sacred shelter.

The Seven Sons of Sceva were no match for a single demon, yet they dared to play with evil spirits. They even dared and attempted to wield the name of “JESUS” like some David with a Goliath’s sword, forgetting that children should not play with fire. “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye.” (Acts 19:15). The evil spirit stirred like an awakened dragon, sniffed the air with contempt for impostors posing as exorcists. The possessed man leaped on them, overcame them, and prevailed against them.

Demons only approached Christ with slinking caution, with their tails between their legs knowing that a single word from the Divine would cast them into the abyss. Pretend exorcists and pretend Christians play a dangerous game. And woe to the carnal Christian that bandies about the “name which is above every name,” using it carelessly. Woe to the make-believe believer who is ever sailing closer to Hell not realizing that once caught in the undertow of darkness there is no turning back. “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”

As David stood before the giant with but sling and stone, we too must be real and be men “after God’s own heart.” I am no match for demons or for evil spirits. I dare not fight with carnal weapons evil spirits large or small. “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who is able to stand before envy?” (Prov. 27:4). Hatred, malice, envy, prejudice, disdain, and ridicule are just a few of the names of one who’s Legion.

“Who am I?” Well, I am simply one of many who JESUS loved and for whom JESUS died. I am no match for evil by myself. May I never wander so far from the Shepherd of my Soul that an evil spirit would have occasion to ask me such a foolish question. But may the evil thing run and hide when it sees me walking by my Savior’s side. May the Spirit, who is God Himself, so fill and abide in me that there is not an atom’s room for evil things. May I leave to others the work of exorcist as I exercise myself rather unto godliness in prayer, and fasting, and feasting on the Words of Him whose name is Love. (1Tim. 4:8).