Lord, Lord

Matthew 7, says that some people claim to cast out demons and perform miracles in Jesus’ name, but He doesn’t even know them. So, what they are saying is not true. In Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva a Jewish priest used Jesus’ name to try to cast out a demon, but it didn’t go very well. The demons did not come out, and man with the demon beat them up instead.

Even though they used Jesus’ name, the demon did not obey because the demons knew the sons of Sceva were NOT God’s children, so they did not have authority over them, so the demons did not have to obey, saying “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” The New Testament is full of examples of demons recognizing Jesus even though the people didn’t. 

The sons of Sceva may have thought they were doing God’s will, but they were not, they were deceived. It is God’s will that these seven sons become children of God in the kingdom of heaven by faith, to have a restored relationship with the Father through faith in Jesus, not just wield the power of His name. Don’t become one of the seven sons of Sceva, seeking power instead of relationship with God. This is lawlessness.

Based on Matthew 7:21-23 and Acts 19:13-16.