The Word Made Plain

Guest (Male): Welcome to The Word Made Plain with senior pastor Tony Clark of Calvary Chapel Newport News in Virginia. Currently, Pastor Tony is teaching a study in the book of Acts. Please open your Bibles to Acts chapter 19, verses 11 through 17.

Tony Clark: All right, let’s dive into the word of God together. Turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 19. We’re going to be looking at verses 11 through 17 as we continue to study the word of God chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and book by book.

We’re in the book of 1 Samuel on Wednesday nights. I’m looking forward to getting back to that, and then we’ll get into our holiday season and pick up 1 Samuel after the first of the year. But we still have one more time to get together before the festivities of the holiday kick in and all that good stuff.

Father, thank you so much for this tremendous opportunity to study your word. We are so grateful that you love us, that you invited us to be here today to hear your heart. Lord, we pray that your Spirit would open up our ears, our minds, and our hearts to receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save our souls. Oh God, I pray, do a work in us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Acts chapter 19, looking at verses 11 through 17. The title of this message is Known in Hell. Known in Hell. One of the characteristics of being famous is being recognized and known around the world. For people to see you and know your name and want your autograph or want to take a picture with you, these are all characteristics of being famous.

It is one thing to be known in this world, but are you known in hell? This is the subject of these verses. By way of background, Paul had just had an encounter with a group of believers from Ephesus that seemed to have something missing from their lives, and that was the power of the Holy Spirit. They had not heard that the Holy Spirit was available to them according to verse two.

Paul went on to instruct them on the purpose of the Holy Spirit, and then he laid hands on them in verse six, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. Then Paul went to the synagogue in verse eight and boldly spoke to them about the kingdom of God. When some of them spoke evil of "the way," which was an early name for Christianity, Paul took the ones who believed and taught them privately in the school of Tyrannus. He continued doing this for two whole years according to verse 10.

Now we continue in verses 11 and 12. It says, "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 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." There are a few observations I would like to make about these verses.

Number one, God worked unusual miracles by the hand of Paul, with the emphasis being upon God. Number two, notice how Luke the author tells us that they were unusual miracles. This phrase can be translated "miracles not of the ordinary kind." Then Luke describes these unusual miracles in verse 12, that even handkerchiefs, which were the sweatbands worn around the head of tentmakers to keep the sweat from getting into their eyes as they worked, were used. We all know that Paul was a tentmaker.

The aprons being described here were not the aprons worn by those in a kitchen. They were aprons similar to what blacksmiths wore. Why did Luke bother to tell us that they were unusual miracles? Because they were not to be the standard by which God would commonly work throughout church history. That's why the emphasis was placed on unusual miracles, miracles of a different kind.

How did these sweatbands and aprons work? The same way that the shadow of Peter in Acts 5:15 and the hem of Jesus's garment in Matthew 14:36 might heal. These items were a point of contact for someone to release their faith. There is nothing magic or miraculous about a shadow, a sweatband, or an apron.

They were only points of contact to release a person’s faith. For example, in Mark chapter five, verse 28, the woman with the issue of blood said in her heart, "If only I may touch his clothes, I shall be made well." When she did, her faith was released and she was healed. The same was true when the people knew that the sweatbands or the aprons came from Paul. It released their faith and they were made well.

The phrase "unusual miracles" shows us that we can't get on TV trying to sell sweatbands or aprons for $19.99 and get rich. No, these were unusual miracles. Look at verses 13 through 16. "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.' Also, there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?' 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."

Seeing the power in the name of Jesus, no doubt the word of the healings that were taking place and the demonic spirits cast out got around to the people. There were some itinerant Jewish exorcists in verse 13 who took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. The Greek word for exorcist is *exorkistēs*, and it means to bind with an oath. It only appears here in the entire New Testament.

Exorcists at this time attempted to expel demons by invoking the name of a more powerful being. Exorcists were common in the ancient world, even among the Jews. As they observed the power of God through the Apostle Paul, they thought that they would give it a try by saying, at the end of verse 13, "We exorcise or solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."

Here are these exorcists trying to imitate the success of Paul’s ministry, and we will see that it would end disastrously. These were charlatans going from town to town making money claiming to heal people. Solomon tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, and we see this kind of charlatan going around today making the same types of claims.

One of them Luke identifies in verse 14, whose name was Sceva. He had seven sons who followed in his footsteps. He even claimed to be a Jewish chief priest. However, there is no historical data on this man other than what we have here in the New Testament. There are no records of any high priest by this particular name.

It is believed that he took this title to impress the people. No different today, men in ministry taking on titles they have not earned to try to impress people or to gain some sort of advantage over God’s people. Usually, it is for financial gain. The name of Jesus is no magical charm to be used by whomever wants to use it, as these exorcists found out the hard way.

They addressed, as I said earlier, "We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." In other words, it’s not the Jesus I believe in, nor the Jesus I am preaching, but the Jesus whom Paul preaches. How did these demons respond to this? Verse 15, the evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who do you think you are?"

This demon saw right through their scam. These evil spirits were saying, "What power do you think you have over me? Jesus I know, and Paul I know. Who are you?" Let me ask you this, are you known in the demonic world? When you wake up each morning, are the demons concerned? Concerned because they know that you’re going to lead people out of Satan’s kingdom into God’s kingdom? Paul was known.

I remember almost 10 years ago, I’ll never forget how Jesus changed history. Everything is divided into BC, before Christ, and AD. Please don’t think AD means "after death." You’ll have a 33-year gap in history. It doesn’t mean after death. It’s a Latin word, *Anno Domini*, it means the year of our Lord. Jesus changed history.

This event I’m telling you about was a defining moment for not only me and ministry, but for this church. It was almost 10 years ago, there was a period of time that we saw over 300 people come to Christ in a two to three-month period. It was an awesome time for our church. Right afterwards, I was attacked spiritually like never before.

Our church went through what many people call a church split that almost destroyed the church. I believe I was definitely known in the demonic world at that time. The enemy tried to take me and this church out to stop the work here, to stop the damage I was doing, bringing people out of darkness into His marvelous light.

It was a demonic attack. Just like God uses people to accomplish His purposes, Satan is a master imitator. He uses people to accomplish his work. It was a devastating time because this church was doing a great work. Think about it, 300 people. It was around this time of year that it took place.

Many people were coming and surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ, repenting of their sin. It was an incredible time. During that time, we were doing altar calls, calling people to come to the altar and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Did you know from that period of time, from the attack of that period of time almost a decade ago, we haven't done altar calls since until three weeks ago?

Now I’m a little bit wiser. I can see the attack coming a mile away. This is why we have to be praying as a church, because Satan is not liking what’s happening. It reminds him of what took place a decade ago here, and he’s going to launch his attack. He uses people. Don’t be a tool of Satan.

Don’t be a weapon formed against this ministry, because you won’t prosper in the end. I’m telling you, God is doing a work. It’s amazing that I’m on these verses and it was around this time of year as well. We’re going to continue to see people come out of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ.

Something else I want to bring to your attention. Don't try to copy or imitate someone else's formula to try to accomplish spiritual victory. If you want to see your effectiveness, your ministry, or your witness die, be like these seven sons of Sceva and say, "To be effective or to be used by God, I have to copy this person or that person."

"I will just say it just the way he says it," or "I will do it the way he does it, I will dress the way he dresses." People think that's the secret. If he's successful in ministry, so will I be if I do it just like them. It will not work. There was a guy who was at our church about 16 years ago.

Whenever he taught, he tried to teach like me. Yes, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but in ministry, it’s a no-no. He went out to start a church and after about 15 years, he had less than 20 people. Be who God made you to be and don’t try to copy someone else’s ministry.

Pastor Chuck, who started all the Calvary Chapels, was known for talking very slow and taking pauses. People who spoke a foreign language loved listening to Pastor Chuck because they could follow him. For those who understand this, my age and above, you'll understand what I'm about to say.

It was funny. When I used to listen to him teach through the Bible, I listened to him on cassette. He would pause so long that we thought it was time to flip the cassette over. When we flipped it over, he was still talking on the other side because he talked so slow.

Guys would get up in the pulpits trying to imitate Pastor Chuck. They would just stop and smile and try to be like Pastor Chuck. It just doesn't work. Be who God made you to be. If you don’t be you, who will? God made you the way that He made you for a reason.

Many of you, I mentioned this in first service, you're a Debbie Downer. Don't come in here trying to act happy if that's not you. Be who God made you. If you need a little help, I can help you with that because being a Debbie Downer is an attitude issue. You know who you are.

Don't try to be what you're not. Be who God made you and God will use you. Don't try to imitate someone else. It won't work. I know it won't work because verse 16 said that 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.

We see the supernatural strength seen through those possessed with a demonic spirit. We see it biblically in Mark chapter five, verses three and four. Mark focuses on the one person who was the main speaker. Matthew tells us that there were two men there. Mark focuses on the main guy.

In Mark five, verses three and four, it says that no one could tame this demon-possessed man. With chains, they couldn’t even contain him because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and he would just pull them apart or break the shackles. No one could tame him.

I remember hearing a story of some eyewitnesses who were there. There was a little young 14-year-old girl in the Philippines who was demon-possessed. she was about 80 pounds. she was demon-possessed and there were some men, about four or five of them, trying to cast the demon out of this young girl.

Eyewitnesses said this young 14-year-old girl was tossing these grown men around like a rag doll. The strength. The Bible talks about angels, how they're powerful in might and strength. Demons are nothing but fallen angels. When they possess a person, they give a person that power.

Let this story be a vivid example and a stern warning to show the dangers of carelessly fooling around with the demonic world through horoscopes, Ouija boards, séances, Dungeons and Dragons, and other virtual reality games. Don't be deceived. Don't fool around with Satan and his world.

I remember a story in the Bible. Remember when Jesus was on the top of the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17? He took Peter, James, and John up there. When they came down off of the mountain, it says that this father brought his little boy who was demon-possessed. The disciples couldn’t cast him out.

They brought him to Jesus and then all of a sudden the demonic spirit began to manifest through this boy, foaming at the mouth and flipping and flopping. Jesus was talking to the father and asked, "How long has this been going on?" He said, "Since childhood."

As children, I’m talking to young people here, we used to fool around with all kind of foolishness. Going into the bathroom in the dark and saying "Bloody Mary" in the mirror. We did all that foolish stuff not knowing that we’re opening ourselves up to the demonic world. Maybe we saw some horror movie. Just nutty stuff.

But you fool around with that stuff. Notice that father said this has been going on since childhood, meaning that something went on with this boy in childhood that he opened himself up to demonic possession. Not just demonic oppression, but demonic possession.

It happens when we're innocent kids just fooling around with that kind of stuff. You better be careful. Please realize that what happens in the movie theaters is just a reflection of what happens in society. If you notice, if you're my age and above, you remember that horror movies only came out around Halloween.

Now it’s year-round. It’s showing a reflection of society, that society is evil year-round. It’s not just a Halloween kind of thing. It is all the time that this evil is going on. I remember when I was in California, I'll never forget talking to this one couple as long as I live.

She began to tell me stories. This is not Hollywood stuff, this was an eyewitness who this was happening to. How she would be in her room and the drawers of the dresser were opening and closing, lights turning on and off, covers snatched off her, and stuff like that. I began to inquire. I asked for her family history.

In her family history, they had a history of fooling around with the demonic. Now this demonic influence that had its way in the family was trying to make its way to her for her to fool around with it. Do not fool around with that which is demonic. You're opening yourself up for oppression and possession. If you're a Christian, you can never be possessed, but you can be oppressed. Stop fooling around with the demonic and thinking it's just cute.

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